On 19 December 2025, a dramatic landslide struck the Khanpora area of Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, where a massive slope collapsed, hurling soil, rocks, and debris downhill in a cloud of thick smog and dust that enveloped the locality for hours, sparking widespread panic among locals but mercifully resulting in no loss of life or major injuries.
Baramulla Police swiftly responded by registering FIR No. 219/2025 under relevant legal provisions, pinpointing illegal stone quarrying as the primary cause that destabilised the hillside, and have initiated a detailed probe to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Key stakeholders include terrified residents voicing fears of recurring slides and demanding immediate safety measures, police emphasising their commitment to public protection, and quarrying operators now under intense scrutiny; the latest developments as of 20 December confirm ongoing site monitoring with no reported property devastation yet, alongside calls for stricter regulations in vulnerable zones.
This incident underscores how unregulated extraction activities pose grave risks to human lives, infrastructure, and the environment in seismically sensitive regions like Baramulla.
Fog of Fear: Eyewitness Accounts and Rapid Response
The landslide unfolded in chilling fashion, captured vividly on CCTV footage that has since circulated widely on social media, showing a sheer wall of earth and stones tumbling down the slope amid an impenetrable blanket of fog and dust, turning day into an eerie twilight for nearby residents.
Videos depict the ground shuddering before the collapse, with debris cascading towards homes, roads, and populated stretches, creating immediate apprehension of tragedy as families huddled indoors, hearts pounding in the haze.
Baramulla Police teams arrived at the scene without delay, cordoning off the hazardous zone, conducting a meticulous risk assessment, and evacuating those in the direct path to ensure zero casualties a testament to their preparedness amid winter’s unpredictable hazards.
A police spokesperson reiterated their resolve, stating, “Our priority remains the safety of every citizen; we will spare no effort in taking stringent action against those indulging in illegal quarrying that endangers lives and property in such precarious terrains.”
While initial evaluations report no confirmed structural damage, locals describe the air thick with dust for hours, with some reporting minor cracks in nearby walls and roads, heightening the human toll of anxiety in this close-knit community. This swift intervention not only averted disaster but also highlighted the vital role of real-time surveillance like CCTV in modern policing.
Recurring Peril: A Trail of Illegal Extraction Woes
Illegal stone quarrying has emerged as a persistent scourge in Baramulla’s rugged landscapes, where unchecked operations gouge deep into hillsides, stripping away stabilising layers and leaving slopes vulnerable to even minor triggers like rainfall or seismic activity a pattern starkly evident in this Khanpora episode.
Just weeks prior, on 7 December, Baramulla Police had seized four tippers loaded with illegally extracted stones in a nearby operation, underscoring a crackdown that has yet to fully stem the tide of violations despite repeated warnings from geology authorities.
Earlier in October 2025, the Geology and Mining Department led a major enforcement drive against similar rackets, impounding vehicles and fining operators, yet incidents persist, as seen in a 2024 Uri landslide that wrecked local infrastructure and echoed these dangers.
Environmental experts have long flagged how such activities exacerbate erosion in Jammu and Kashmir’s ecologically fragile zones, where steep gradients and loose soil amplify risks, especially during the colder months when fog and frost compound instability.
The FIR in this case invokes stringent sections of laws governing mining and public safety, signalling a zero-tolerance pivot as investigators comb quarry sites for evidence, interview workers, and trace ownership chains.
Residents, many of whom rely on these very hills for their livelihoods, now grapple with a dual reality: economic pressures pushing some towards illicit work, juxtaposed against the existential threat to their homes and families, painting a picture of a community caught between survival and sustainability.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Events like the Khanpora landslide reveal the heartbreaking fragility of human lives when greed overrides communal harmony, urging us to extend empathy to those living under the shadow of unstable slopes while fostering dialogue between regulators, locals, and miners for kinder, more accountable practices.
At The Logical Indian, we stand firmly for peace and coexistence, advocating robust enforcement of environmental laws that protect vulnerable ecosystems without stifling legitimate livelihoods, and championing sustainable alternatives like regulated eco-mining or community-led conservation to weave safety into progress.
True social change blooms from collective kindness prioritising prevention through awareness campaigns, advanced monitoring tech, and inclusive policymaking that honours our shared earth.
