At least eight roadside shops were damaged after a portion of land sank following torrential rain in the Prem Mandir area of Chenani in Udhampur district along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.
According to local residents, the incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. after heavy rainfall lashed the area. The incessant downpour caused a nearby seasonal stream (nallah) to swell, triggering soil erosion and land subsidence beneath the row of shops.
The sudden sinking of land caused extensive damage to the shops, with several structures developing deep cracks and becoming unsafe. Merchandise and other materials stored inside the shops were also damaged, causing significant financial losses to the owners.
Residents said panic gripped the locality after loud cracking sounds were heard during the night. People rushed out of their homes and gathered at the site. However, as the shops were closed at the time of the incident, no loss of life or injuries were reported.
Locals blamed the continuous heavy rainfall and the overflowing stream for weakening the soil beneath the commercial structures. They warned that if immediate preventive measures are not taken, further land subsidence could threaten nearby buildings and pose a risk to traffic on the busy national highway.
The affected shopkeepers urged the District Administration, Udhampur, to depute a Revenue Department team to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the damage and prepare a detailed loss report. They also sought adequate compensation, stating that the damaged shops are their primary source of livelihood and that the losses have severely affected their businesses.
Residents further appealed to the administration to undertake long-term mitigation measures, including proper drainage management, strengthening of the vulnerable slope, and protective works along the adjoining stream to prevent such incidents during the ongoing monsoon season.
