Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 26: The land link to over thirty villages of district Poonch could not be restored as two main bridges at Dundak and Samrote over Suran river, which were partially washed away along with approach roads during recent heavy rains and floods, could not be restored till today.
Reports said that people of these areas are facing lot of hardships in view of the snapping of land link to the area. The school going children and college students besides employees of the area are the worst affected due to snapping of vital links because of washing away of these bridges and damage caused to the approach road.
Even the main Sher-e-Kashmir bridge at Poonch could not be restored after it suffered massive damage at one end and its approach road, which was washed away changing the course of river. The vehicular traffic on Jammu-Poonch highway has been diverted via Kalai bridge, ensuring link to Poonch city.
The vital Dundak bridge on Suran river in tehsil Surankote of district Poonch, has snapped the link to about a dozen villages including Morha Bachhai, Luthang, Dodi, Fagla, Malaan and a large number of hamlets. A portion of this steel girder bridge along with approach road has been washed away in recent floods. On the same day (Sept 5), another vital bridge of Pamrote and its main approach road was also washed away. The people of over 20 villages of the area including Pamrote, Darra Sangla, Dandi Dharra, Gonthal, Kallar Kattal and Kallar have been affected with the snapping of this land link.
The third casualty of the floods was the main Sher-e-Kashmir (SK) bridge at Poonch on the same day. This bridge ensures the main communication to Poonch with Rajouri and Jammu. The prime focus of the State R&B authorities is to restore temporary traffic on Jammu-Poonch road through SK bridge.
Superintending Engineer, R&B Circle Rajouri-Poonch, D R Bhagat when contacted said that mainly approach roads of these three bridges including SK bridge, Dundak and Pamrote have been washed away while a portion of them also suffered some damage. He said after holding meetings at the higher level, it was decided to restore traffic on these bridges by launching Bailey bridges with the help of Ministry of Defence.
“We have already communicated to the Ministry of Defence and road link to these three main bridges will be restored with in two weeks. For this Calcutta based firm is sending material and it has been dispatched for the main SK bridge. We will also request the firm to launch the bridge because they have the expertise. It is hoped that temporary traffic on these bridges would be restored within next 15 days,” Mr Bhagat maintained.
In response to a question the SE R&B said that funds to the tune of nearly Rs 10 crores would be required for the launch of these Bailey bridges for the temporary restoration of traffic. The order has already been placed to the firm and the process has begun. R&B has no role in the launch of this kind of bridges as department has not expertise for it. Moreover, for SK bridge one span of nearly 50 mts length is being extended towards Poonch city. The river changed course and caused extensive damage, Mr Bhagat maintained.
Mr Bhagat also claimed that partial restoration of link to the area has been ensured through Faizlabad by executing emergency work on a bridge there. Some relief to the people of the area has been provided with this.
Deputy Commissioner, Poonch M H Malik said that for the opinion and assessment for the permanent restoration of SK Bridge at Poonch and two others at Dundak and Pamrote, a team of experts from Delhi is reaching Poonch shortly. “We have already taken up this issue at the higher level and after taking their opinion, the cost on the projects would be worked out. For the main SK bridge, there is need to increase some pillars. The people residing closer to the river are being shifted and they will not be allowed to raise constructions in future.
Mr Malik said that the unprecedented rains and floods besides landslides in district Poonch have caused extensive damages to the road infrastructure. The restoration work has been launched on war footing and many roads have been restored. The DC said as revealed by Executive Engineer, PWD (R&B) Poonch, Kabir Hussain Shah, as many as 193 roads have been affected out of which 121 are major roads. Out of them, 34 are in Surankote, 33 in Mandi, 31 in Poonch and 23 in Mendhar; connecting several villages with the tehsil and district headquarters whereas, 72 are minor roads connecting small hamlets with the major rural links. Several foot bridges and approach roads to three major bridges i.e. Sher-e-Kashmir, Dundak and Pamrote were breached at various locations putting the vehicular traffic and pedestrian movement to a halt.
The DC further disclosed that 107 out of 121 major roads which were extensively damaged and blocked at various locations due to landslides, rock falls, slips and washed away stretches, have been opened for traffic and restoration work on the remaining 14 roads has got delayed due to major stretches and take off points of PMGSY roads being washed away. For restoration of three major bridges in the district, Bailey bridges have been arranged. The restoration work of fully and partially damaged foot bridges has also been set into motion and a timeline has been fixed for their completion, Mr Malik added.
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