MEERUT: Over a dozen houses developed cracks due to land subsidence in the Thakurdwara area of Baghpat. Locals said a gas pipeline, which was laid in the locality seven months ago, perhaps caused the problem.
Rajeev Gupta, one of the residents whose houses developed cracks, said, “Due to the situation, the walls of my house have become very weak and might crash any time. We are quite worried and living in fear. So, I am planning to shift to another locality as soon as I get accommodation on rent.”
He blamed the gas pipeline for the subsidence. “During the laying of the pipeline, drilling and digging damaged the water supply line and leakage filled the lane, causing subsidence,” he added.
All families whose houses developed cracks have “demanded the administration to find some solution” so they don’t have to migrate.
According to a senior official, complaints regarding cracks in the houses in Thakurdwara were received two days ago.
Baghpat additional district magistrate (ADM) Pratipal Singh also said that information regarding the cracks in a few houses was received. “A few locals complained that the situation occurred due to the laying of a gas pipeline. Sub-divisional magistrate Pooja Chaudhary has been instructed to inspect the spot, assess the condition and submit a report. Simultaneously, efforts are on to find a solution to the problem,” he said.
Meanwhile, district magistrate (DM) Rajkamal Yadav inspected the affected houses on Friday. A team of officials, including PWD executive engineer Atul Kumar and executive engineer at Baghpat Rural Engineering Service Habibullah (goes by first name), accompanied the DM. Yadav said, “The team of engineers has been instructed to conduct a probe and find out the cause of the cracks.”
The officials said prima facie, it appeared that waterlogging in the lane due to damage in the water supply pipeline caused land subsidence that resulted in cracks.
Rajeev Gupta, one of the residents whose houses developed cracks, said, “Due to the situation, the walls of my house have become very weak and might crash any time. We are quite worried and living in fear. So, I am planning to shift to another locality as soon as I get accommodation on rent.”
He blamed the gas pipeline for the subsidence. “During the laying of the pipeline, drilling and digging damaged the water supply line and leakage filled the lane, causing subsidence,” he added.
All families whose houses developed cracks have “demanded the administration to find some solution” so they don’t have to migrate.
According to a senior official, complaints regarding cracks in the houses in Thakurdwara were received two days ago.
Baghpat additional district magistrate (ADM) Pratipal Singh also said that information regarding the cracks in a few houses was received. “A few locals complained that the situation occurred due to the laying of a gas pipeline. Sub-divisional magistrate Pooja Chaudhary has been instructed to inspect the spot, assess the condition and submit a report. Simultaneously, efforts are on to find a solution to the problem,” he said.
Meanwhile, district magistrate (DM) Rajkamal Yadav inspected the affected houses on Friday. A team of officials, including PWD executive engineer Atul Kumar and executive engineer at Baghpat Rural Engineering Service Habibullah (goes by first name), accompanied the DM. Yadav said, “The team of engineers has been instructed to conduct a probe and find out the cause of the cracks.”
The officials said prima facie, it appeared that waterlogging in the lane due to damage in the water supply pipeline caused land subsidence that resulted in cracks.