Chenab Valley

Chenab Valley, also known as the Chenab Region is the river valley of the Chenab River flowing through the Kishtwar, Doda, and Ramban districts in the Jammu division of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.^[1][2]

Chenab Valley
Region
Chenab River at Ramban
Country	India
Districts	Doda Kishtwar Ramban Reasi

Geography

Chenab Valley lies between the middle and outer Himalayan range in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is divided into three districts: Doda, Ramban, and Kishtwar; one sub-division of Reasi is also considered to be part of this sub-region. The valley touches the Anantnag district of Kashmir Valley to the north, Kishtwar district to the north-east, the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, and Kathua district to the South, the Udhampur district to the southwest, and Salal Reasi Subdivision to the West, with Doda in its middle.

Chenab Valley is mostly hilly terrain. The Chenab River flows through the Chenab Valley. The area is an active seismic zone.^[3]

Culture

Chenab Valley is rich in cultural heritage. The main occupations of the people of the valley are farming and cattle rearing.

Languages

Chenab Valley is home to a variety of ethnic groups. Among the languages spoken in the region, Kashmiri and its dialects – Rambani, Pogali, Kishtwari and Serazi^[4] – is the most widely spoken. Other major languages are: Gojri, Pahari, Ladakhi, Dogri, and Bhadarwahi.

Natural disasters

A 5.8 earthquake hit the Chenab Valley on May 1, 2013, killing two and injuring 69.^[5] Seismic activity continued in the valley throughout 2013, prompting teams of seismologists to study the area. A local belief states that the earthquakes were being caused by hydroelectric construction projects in the area.^[3]

Flash floods wreaked havoc in Thathri town of the Doda district, inundating vast areas along the Batote-Kishtwar National Highway and washing away half a dozen houses. Six persons were killed in the flash floods.^[6]