Panic Grips Residents Of Vorkady Panchayat In Kasargod Following Deep Cracks In Ground
Experts say cracks could be due to soil piping
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Panic spread among the residents of Kajaey in Vorkady panchayat of Kasargod district in Kerala on Friday after deep cracks appeared in the ground.
The local authorities evacuated people from the area to safer places as a precautionary measure due to the deep cracks. The cracks have surfaced in many places, and a portion of a road leading to a cluster of houses caved in as a result of this phenomenon.
Experts warn that many areas in Kasargod are vulnerable to soil piping, a process where water flows through certain underground soils, creating tunnels or channels. This weakens the soil and can cause the ground above to collapse or slip. The situation has worsened due to heavy moisture in the soil and the hilly terrain of Kasaragod.
Similar cracks were reported last year in Cheruvathoor. Kasargod district has experienced heavy to very heavy rainfall over the past three days, which many believe may have aggravated the situation.
Several families living near the areas where cracks have appeared have been relocated to safer places. Officials, including soil experts, are inspecting the region and collecting soil samples for analysis. Last year, small cracks had surfaced, but this year the cracks are much larger and deeper.
"We are all living in constant fear. This has been happening since last year. The Collector, Tahsildar, soil experts, panchayat officials and other revenue officials visited the area and collected soil samples. But so far they haven't found any solution to this problem," said a resident.
"We cannot sleep. There is fear everywhere. Authorities need to take action to ease our fears, "said another native.
Meanwhile, the district administration has decided to monitor the situation closely.
