Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 8: The traffic on Jammu- Srinagar National Highway which was closed due to heavy landslides at Kheri near Udhampur, was restored after about 14 hours this afternoon while Doda-Bhaderwah road continued to be blocked due to landslides near Bhalla for 6th consecutive day today.
Bhaderwah town of district Doda and adjoining areas of this sub-division are facing shortage of food items, kerosene oil, petrol- diesel, LPG and fresh vegetables as the road connectivity has been snapped. The GREF officials have pressed two machines to clear the boulders and trees but due to continuous rain for the last several days, the road link could not be cleared. A large numbers of vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the blocked Bhaderwah road.
Officials sources said that movement of vehicular traffic on busy Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, came to halt at around 11 pm on Friday, when massive landslides took place at Kheri, about 4 kms ahead of Udhampur. It was raining heavily during the night and in the morning. The GREF men launched restoration work on the highway at affected zone after the weather improved. After 6-7 hours work, the highway was partially restored at around 1.30 pm today. Again some boulders came down the mountain and they blocked highway. It was again cleared by the machines and this process continued for several times. A large number of vehicles remained stranded while Amarnath Yatra vehicles were also stopped at Nagrota and TPC Udhampur.
IGP Traffic J&K, J P Singh when contacted told the Excelsior that Jammu- Srinagar Highway was blocked due to fresh landslides at Kheri last night and BRO men launched operation clearance in the morning after the weather permitted. He said two machines were pressed into service. The water, mud and boulder continued to slide down the mountain and these posed greater challenge to the BRO men engaged at work. Some tippers were also used in operation clearance. But the struggle continued through out the day.
The IGP further disclosed that after the highway was partially restored at around 1.30 pm the Srinagar bound convoy was allowed to move ahead. He said about 2700 light and medium passenger vehicles and 1000 trucks were allowed to move slowly through this sliding zone but massive traffic jam was caused due to slow movement of vehicles. Mr Singh said that in the evening, the Jammu bound vehicles were also allowed to move down and it also created more traffic jamming on this busy highway. He, however, admitted that highway was not fully restored but by tomorrow, it will be fully restored if the weather remained dry.
Reports from Doda said that Bhaderwah road continued to be blocked on the sixth consecutive day today as the GREF authorities were facing lot of problems to clear about 250 meters affected road due to heavy landslides. About 100 trees have also fallen as a major portion of mountain has come down due to heavy rains. More than 100 vehicles have been stranded in Bhaderwah area and people are experiencing shortage of food items, vegetables, LPG and fuel.
The local administration fetched some vegetables from Chamba (HP) side today by deputing three mini-trucks. But there is much scarcity of diesel/ petrol, LPG and kerosene oil.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Bhaderwah, Mohammad Anwar Bandey told the Excelsior that he himself was supervising the restoration work at the site. He said a senior GREF officer Col Vishal Sharma was also there at the site monitoring the work. Mr Bandey said that about 250 mt area of the road has been affected and mud and boulders continued to roll down along with water from the mountain. This process has caused problem for the GREF men to clear the road.
He said the road was about to be cleared by this evening but again fresh slides blocked more portion of the cleared road. But by tomorrow, the road will be cleared by all means, he maintained.
When asked about the shortage of ration and fuel, the SDM said there is shortage of fuel in the area but sufficient CAPD ration was available in the department stores in the town. He said today three truck fresh vegetables were procured from Chamba for local consumption. Some other vehicles used Bani route to fetch some food items. Though that road is not good, yet some vehicles used that route in emergency. But by tomorrow, the district headquarters will be linked with Bhaderwah, the SDM added.
Meanwhile, two persons were injured when a kutcha house collapsed at Ramgarh in district Samba today. The incident took place at around 10 am today. There was no rain at that time. The central wooden support of the house got broken and the muddy house of 65 year-old Girdhari Lal gave way. He and his wife Samitri Devi were seriously injured and removed to Ramgarh hospital by the locals. The doctors provided first aid and then referred them to GMC hospital Jammu.
Meanwhile, district administration, Udhampur has issued rain and avalanche alert for general public and Shri Amarnath Yatris in view of the forecast suggesting heavy rains in next two days on August 9 and 10.
Administration has advised the people not to venture in landslide/avalanche-prone areas and avoid going near rivers /nullahs during the period to prevent any untoward incident in view of expected heavy rains in some parts of the district. The people have also been advised to take all necessary precautions and avoid unnecessary travelling during this period. All the concerned departments related to disaster management have been asked to remain alert during the period.
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