As landslides continue, locals seek resettlement
MUSSOORIE: Landslides continued unabated in Jhalimath village in Rudraprayag district, with another house caving in on Monday evening, said villagers.
The district administration had relocated 11 out of 18 families from Jhalimath under Saarigram panchayat to other places considering their safety following the landslides. But with land subsidence activities still going on, it is posing a threat to the village with residents demanding speedy rehabilitation and treatment before more houses are damaged.
Harendra Kumar, 42, a villager from Jhalimath whose house caved in on Monday and who is now living with his relatives, said, “On February 28, one toilet and a cowshed were damaged and since then the landslide has continued unabated and now my house has also caved in making me homeless”.
“I have been forced to shift to my relative’s house for now, but the administration should find a solution through permanent rehabilitation,” he added.
Harendra Kumar is facing difficulties since his house was damaged due to a landslide.
The district administration has begun the survey of the area and will take a decision after getting the final geological report.
“On February 28, a cowshed and a toilet that was on the edge of the village were damaged, and we immediately shifted the affected family to safer areas and have provided them immediate relief,” said district magistrate Rudraprayag Manuj Goyal.
A geological survey has been conducted of the landslide zone to determine the scale of the damage and danger it poses to the village and the permanent rehabilitation exercise as per the requirement will be conducted only after receiving the report, added Goyal.
Ishwar Singh, district Congress president from Saari village, said, “The houses are crumbling each day with some developing cracks which have instilled fear among the villagers who want immediate relief from the government in form of permanent rehabilitation.”
Birendra Kumar, brother of Harendra Kumar, the affected villager, said “The roar of the boulders falling each day at the landslide zone brings in more for each day and it is becoming difficult to live here. For now, we have shifted to a relative’s house, but the government will have to find a solution before it is too late.”
Maheshwari Devi, gram pradhan Saari gram panchayat, said, “Most of the houses have developed cracks. Villagers are demanding permanent rehabilitation as they fear for their lives.”
The district disaster management wing had shifted 11 families to a government school, panchayat Bhawan and other places initially when the landslide occurred on February 28. Later some other villagers fearing more landslides have shifted with their relatives in and around the area.
The prima facie reason for the landslide is being attributed to the water seepage but it would be clear only after the geological report is submitted to the administration said the official.