This Article is From Oct 05, 2010

Sinking village impacts Kashmir train project

Sinking village impacts Kashmir train project
Dharm Village, Jammu: Sky is the ceiling for the 50 families of Jammu's Dharm village. A week ago, the earth under their feet began sinking as the entire hillock on which the village stands gave away - houses, orchards, fields, belongings, everything was gone. Villagers have been moved to tents some distance away.

"In winters we shall die. We have small children and the snowfall here is very heavy," said Atta Mohammad, villager.

"We are thinking of giving them pre-fabricated structures" said Pawan Kotwal, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu.

The land sinking has caused a huge panic in the population out here. But there is another worry. It's also the site of a railway tunnel connecting Kashmir Valley.

The area comes under the ambitious Kashmir Train Project that will connect Kashmir to the rest of the country.

In fact, the steepest part of the construction - 70 Kilometre connecting Qazigund to Katra via treacherous mountains - cuts through Dharm.

Now, the project has gone through a rethink.

"In the seismic statistics, Jammu-Kashmir is at Zone IV and Zone V. Zone V is the highest vulnerable zone. Earthquakes of great magnitude can take place here," said Professor G M Bhat, Geologist.

Keeping in mind the seismic sensitivity and the loose soil, the railways have realigned the track, now focusing more on bridges and underground tunnels.
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