KISHTWAR, Apr 19 — At least 22 families were evacuated from a hilltop village in Chenab valley’s Kishtwar district after a stretch near Singrah Nallah along the Kishtwar–Paddar road began sinking, triggering fears of a landslide, officials said on Saturday.
The arterial road—also a key route to the Machail Mata shrine—remained closed for the third consecutive day, disrupting the annual yatra that had resumed only a week ago after winter.
“We have taken some preventive measures for the safety of the locals due to the continuous sinking and lurking threat of a landslide,” said Nagsini tehsildar Mohd Rafi Naik.
“Twenty-two families were shifted and provided with tents and ration. So far, no houses have developed cracks.”
Naik, who is monitoring the situation, said around 200 metres of the road have been damaged, and efforts to restore connectivity have been hampered by falling stones from the hillock.
District development commissioner (DDC) Rajesh Kumar Shavan visited the site at Pathernaki on Friday to assess the vulnerability and ongoing mitigation efforts.
He was briefed by General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) officials on the condition of the route and the progress of repairs.
The DDC instructed the GREF to expedite restoration while maintaining safety standards.
“The local administration has been asked to stay alert, and directions were given to strengthen the damaged section to prevent further disruption, especially ahead of the monsoon,” an official accompanying the DDC said.
Shavan also advised the
hydroelectric project authorities working on the 624 MW Kiru project to strictly follow SOPs to prevent further damage.
Locals have accused the executing agency of triggering instability through extensive blasting activities in the region.
Pathernaki and Kiru are known slide-prone zones, and the current sinking has intensified concerns.