Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 7: Fresh rain and snowfall was experienced in many parts of the State, indicating sharp fall in temperature while today 1900 passengers vehicles and 600 trucks were cleared to Kashmir from Jammu and Udhampur as the landslides at Gangroo and Magarkote near Ramsu were cleared by the BRO men last evening.
Nearly 40 families, which turned homeless after massive landslides that struck Chode Kote village near Sanasar in Ramban two days back are still waiting for the response from the district authorities. Reports said that a Naib tehsildar today managed to reach there but no assistance could be provided to the people as there is no road connectivity due to heavy snow in that area. The Patnitop-Sanasar road is already closed due to heavy snowfall in Natha Top area.
IGP Traffic, Muneer Khan told the Excelsior that today the light and medium passenger transport vehicles and even some buses were allowed towards Kashmir and Banihal area from Jammu at 4 am onwards. After 10 am trucks were allowed to ply towards Valley with essential commodities. These goods carriers were stranded at Udhampur, Dhar Road, Manwal, Byspass Nagrota and other locations for the last 4-5 days.
Till 7.30 pm about 1900 passenger vehicles and 560 trucks had crossed the Jawahar Tunnel area and nearly 500 odd trucks/ load carriers were in the process to move towards Valley. He said the rain and snowfall started in Banihal and Pir Panjal area this evening and movement is likely to be halted any time. He said over 1700 stranded Kashmir bound passenger vehicles were cleared last evening after the Highway was reopened on the 5th day.
Mr Khan further disclosed that till now the highway was clear and tomorrow there will be movement of vehicles from Kashmir to Jammu. The movement of passenger vehicles will be allowed from 7 am up to 10 am from Lower Munda and thereafter, trucks will be allowed to move towards Jammu.
Meanwhile, the rain has started this evening in most parts of Jammu region while there are reports of snowfall in Patnitop, Bhaderwah, Pir Panjal, higher reaches of Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Doda and Ramban. The power supply to many areas has been snapped and the people are facing lot of hardships. There is sharp fall in the temperature in Jammu areas and movement of the people has been restricted due to rain. The normal life has been paralysed.
A Met spokesman said that there will be heavy rain and snowfall in many parts of Kashmir and Jammu regions in next 36 hours. The weather may improve on Monday evening or Tuesday.
Report from Poonch said that 46 families of Kalsan village near Bagial Dhara (LOC) in Poonch have been provided ration, more blankets and other assistance by the Administration while 40 families in Sanasar area of district Ramban are still waiting for the help. The people are taking shelter in the houses of other villagers and their relatives. A Naib Tehsildar from Batote with some staff today reached there on foot but no adequate assistance could be provided to these affected families by the Government.
When asked about the status of highway at main bottlenecks, the IGP said Kheri near Udhampur has been cleared and a dozer has been placed there for any emergency. There is no fresh landslide at Gangroo and Higni in Ramsoo area which created major trouble in last two days. He said passage for the single vehicle was created and single movement has been allowed at these two points. At one point near Gangroo, the road had sunk. The BRO men are on the job to improve the road condition, he added.
Meanwhile, several link roads in Dudu-Basantgarh, Pancheri-Landhar area of Udhampur, Mahore-Gool, Basohli Bani and Billawar area of Kathua besides parts of Rajouri, Ramban and Doda areas are still blocked. The power supply to many areas has also badly affected.
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