Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Land subsidence cracks 15 Uttarkashi houses; families demand rehabilitation
The ground in some mountain villages is starting to move and sink, which is called land subsidence.
When the land moves, cracks appear in buildings.
At least 15 houses in a village called Sauli have cracks now, so families had to leave their homes.
They are staying with relatives or in safer places for now.
The families met on Independence Day and asked the government to help them find new homes nearby and pay for their damaged houses.
Some people think the land is sinking because workers are cutting hills to make roads wider.
Government officers say the problem started when private houses were built in an area where water collects under the ground.
In another town called Jyotirmath, 300 families are still waiting for money to fix houses damaged when the land sank in June 2023.
Officers there say help and compensation are coming soon.
At least 15 houses in Sauli village, Naugaon block, Uttarkashi district, have developed cracks from land subsidence over the past four days.
Affected families met on Saturday, Independence Day, and demanded that the government announce a rehabilitation programme.
Residents blamed the sinking land on massive construction work under state and central government supervision, including hill cutting for road widening.
District magistrate Prashant Arya said Sauli is a watershed area where water accumulates underground and subsidence began with private building construction; funds were sought from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
In Jyotirmath, Chamoli district, 300 families still await compensation for houses damaged in land subsidence incidents in June 2023.
- Who
- Residents of Sauli village and Jyotirmath, along with officials including Uttarkashi district magistrate Prashant Arya, Barkot sub-divisional magistrate Brijesh Kumar Tiwari, and Chamoli district magistrate Gaurav Kumar.
- What
- Land subsidence cracked at least 15 houses in Sauli village, prompting families to demand rehabilitation, while 300 Jyotirmath families still await compensation for 2023 subsidence damage.
- When
- Cracks developed over the four days before Saturday, when the affected families met on the occasion of Independence Day; the Jyotirmath damage dates to June 2023.
- Where
- Sauli village in Naugaon block, Uttarkashi district, and Jyotirmath, Chamoli district, in Uttarakhand.
- Why
- Residents say the land is sinking because of massive construction work and hill cutting under state and central government supervision; officials say water accumulation in a watershed area and private building construction triggered the subsidence.
Residents' Perspective
Officials' Perspective
Cause of land subsidence
Residents' Perspective
Residents say the land is sinking because of massive construction work carried out under the supervision of the state and central governments, including cutting hills to widen roads and, in Jyotirmath, alleged excavation for a hydro-power project.
Officials' Perspective
Uttarkashi district magistrate Prashant Arya says Sauli is located in a watershed area where water accumulates below the ground, and land subsidence began when construction of private buildings started there.
Rehabilitation timeline
Residents' Perspective
Affected families want the government to prepare a plan at the earliest to compensate them for damaged houses and rehabilitate them at another place in the same area.
Officials' Perspective
Officials say affected families have shifted to relatives' houses, relief kits have been distributed, funds have been sought from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for rented housing, and monitoring continues.
- Affected houses
- At least 15 cracked houses in Sauli village, Naugaon block, Uttarkashi district
- Timeline
- Cracks developed over the past four days; families met on Saturday (Independence Day)
- Alleged cause (residents)
- Massive construction work under state and central government supervision, including hill cutting for road widening
- Alleged cause (officials)
- Water accumulation in a watershed area; subsidence began with private building construction
- Government response
- Relief kits distributed; funds sought from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for rented housing
- Jyotirmath status
- 300 families still awaiting compensation for June 2023 land subsidence damage in Chamoli district
- Jyotirmath compensation update
- Traditional semi-concrete and stone houses now included in the approved compensation list