Kangra in Crisis: Villages Submerged, Families Forced to Relocate

Gardner village near Thural worst hit; homes collapse, roads crumble

Relentless rainfall over the past several days has triggered massive land subsidence across parts of the Bachhwai region in Kangra district, forcing several families to abandon their homes for safer ground. Among the worst affected is Gardner village near Thural, where multiple houses have collapsed and many others have developed deep cracks.

The disruption of essential services has further aggravated the crisis. Power poles have been uprooted, leaving entire areas without electricity or water supply. Access roads leading to the villages have either been washed away or split open with fissures two to four feet wide, cutting off connectivity. Residents say that continuous landslides and dangerously falling boulders near residential areas have left them sleepless and fearful.

Locals fear more rain could worsen an already chaotic situation. “We haven’t seen such devastation in decades,” one villager said. Senior BJP leader and Sulah MLA Vipin Singh Parmar, who visited the affected areas, described the situation as “severe” and estimated losses worth crores in public and private property. He noted that road closures have made several areas inaccessible. The power outage has also knocked out mobile connectivity, delaying the transmission of vital information. Parmar added that over 15 homes have either collapsed or developed major cracks, and their residents have been shifted to government buildings or private shelters.

Sulah SDM Salem Azam, who also visited the villages, confirmed that large-scale relief and rescue operations are underway. He said multiple roads and water supply schemes have been damaged, with the immediate priority being the relocation of flood-affected families to safe shelters. Heavy machinery has been deployed to restore road connectivity, while residents of damaged houses are being shifted.

A Tribune team that visited the villages on Monday reported widespread fear among locals. Villagers have appealed for a geological survey to determine the causes of sudden land subsidence. Ninety-two-year-old resident Shambhu Ram remarked that he had never witnessed such heavy rainfall in the past 70 years.

The situation is also grim in Jai Singhpur, where more than 20 houses have collapsed this monsoon, leaving at least 15 families homeless. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far.