Himachal’s Lahaul-Spiti Village Sees Cracks, Urges Geological Survey

“In a Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti village,nine houses have experienced structural cracks,with authorities deeming four of them as ‘unsafe’.”

With nine of the 16 houses in Lindur village in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti district developing cracks due to land sinking, the residents have sought a geological survey to ascertain the reason behind the subsidence. “Approximately 70 villagers sleep outdoors due to house collapse fears; fissures have damaged their agricultural land, they reported.”

“Sarita, the Pradhan of Goharama Gram Panchayat, informed PTI that cracks, initially noticed in the village periphery in June/July, have since widened and spread, posing a threat to houses. Out of the 16 houses in the village,nine have developed cracks, and authorities have declared four of them as unsafe.”

“She added that the seepage of water from the nearby Jahmala-nullah,which experiences annual-flooding,could potentially be the cause of the cracks. “She said the authorities need a geological survey to confirm, and they’ve requested the survey to be conducted.”

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Cracks have developed in some houses in the village and the officials have visited the place. “Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar stated that villagers with cracked houses can relocate, but none have opted to.”

The situation is under control but the villagers are nervous. “Kumar directed the Tehsildar to offer immediate relief to the affected families.”

We have urged the government to ensure canalisation of the Jahmala-nullah to resolve the seepage-problem affecting two to three panchayats. The district administration has also written to the Indian Institute of Technology,Mandi,to conduct a study and suggest a remedy,he said.

“Earlier this year, neighboring Uttarakhand experienced a similar alarm in Joshimath when significant cracks appeared in numerous houses, fields, and roads, rendering the town unsafe for habitation. “As a consequence, authorities relocated a significant number of residents to safer areas.”

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