Jammu: After Joshimath in Uttarakhand, as many as 21 structures have developed cracks due to "sinking" of land while the families have been shifted to the safer locations in Thathri tehsil of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said on Friday.

A team from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been rushed to the spot.

"Yes, cracks have appeared in some structures," Visheshpal Mahajan, District Magistrate Doda told UNI.

He said, "We have shifted families to the temporarily established relief camps and the GSI team is also pressed in service to ascertain the cause of the sinking of land."

Director, Geology and Mining, J&K, O P Bhagat told UNI: "the district administration has approached us following which a team is being constituted to visit the spot."

Meanwhile, Member, District Development Council (DDC), territorial constituency Thathri, Sandeep Manhas told UNI, "I have visited the spot and found cracks have appeared in nearly 19 houses, mosque and madarssa."

"The land is sinking but confirmed reasons are not yet known," said Manhas.

"The residents are in panic and have vacated their house," said the Member DDC adding, "the administration is already informed and they are looking into the matter."

According to officials, the cracks appeared in December last in a house and gradually aggravated.