Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Aug 9: Even as the authorities succeeded to re-open Doda-Bhaderwah road which remained closed for seven days, the traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway once again remained suspended for around 15 hours because of fresh landslides at Kheri near Udhampur town.
Further, there are reports of some houses, flour mills on water streams as well as standing crop getting washed away due to heavy rains in Khwas area of Rajouri while around half a dozen roads in interiors of Udhampur district also witnessed closure of traffic movement following landslides.
Though traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway was partially restored after 3 pm today, hundreds of stranded vehicles on both ends of the road led to chaos like situation up to Udhampur town where traffic congestion was witnessed throughout the day.
According to IGP Traffic, J P Singh, traffic was partially restored on the highway this afternoon after GREF made the single road through after continuous work since early morning in the wake of fresh landslides at Kheri on Saturday late night. “Stranded vehicles on both ends of the road are being allowed to move turn by turn but because of heavy congestion and partial restoration, it was taking time,” he said and added that the traffic is likely to be fully restored by tomorrow if the weather remains clear and no fresh landslides take place.
A spokesman of the District Administration Udhampur said that a major landslide took place at Kheri where the entire hillock slided down last night. Muck and debris again blocked the national highway and restoration operation was launched early this morning.
Machinery of GREF, Mechanical Department and PWD were mobilized at spot to clear the debris and after 4 hour long restoration operation at Kheri, the road was made through for traffic.
Likewise, half a dozen roads were closed due to landslides at Pancheri, Lander, Narsu, Moungri, Saddal, Latti and Dudu, where machinery was mobilized by the district administration for immediate clearance, the spokesman added.
The Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary has directed the traffic police to liaise with BRO and ADC office for information on road blockades due to landslide and regarding restoration operation so that vehicles are halted well in advance instead of making passengers to wait for hours together during night time.
On Sunday, long queues of vehicles were seen upto several kilometers on both ends of Kheri, three kilometers from Udhampur town, which has emerged as main spot witnessing repeated landslides because of a temporary lake on the mountain top from where water continues to seep out thus triggering frequent sliding down of mud and boulders on the highway.
Because of the highway blockage, approximately 3500 vehicles were stranded from Udhampur to Chenani thus causing traffic jams here and there even in the Udhampur town and the Dhar road till the evening.
Pertinent to mention here that traffic on Jammu- Srinagar National Highway had remained closed on Saturday also for around 15 hours following heavy landslides at Kheri at 11 pm on Friday. The vehicular movement was restored at 2 pm yesterday but after fresh landslides around 11 pm on Saturday at the same point, the highway was closed again.
Meanwhile, the GREF authorities today succeeded to re-open the Doda-Bhaderwah road, which remained closed for seven days because of landslides near Bhalla.
IGP Traffic J P Singh informed that traffic has been restored on the Doda-Bhaderwah road since 12 noon and the stranded vehicles were being allowed to move in the initial phase. “After clearance of the stranded vehicles, load carriers and trucks will also be allowed in the late evening for supply of essential items,” he added
As reported, Bhaderwah town of district Doda and adjoining areas have been facing acute shortage of food items, kerosene oil, petrol- diesel, LPG and fresh vegetables as the road connectivity was snapped for the last seven days. The GREF authorities were facing lot of problems to clear about 250 meters affected road.
Reports from Rajouri said that three Kaccha house and eight flour mills on water streams were completely damaged in heavy rains and flash floods at Khwas areas of Rajouri, last night while standing crop was washed away at Marha, Barsi, Keri, Gond and Bela.
Though there was no loss of life, houses of Prasad Singh, Parveen Singh and Dinesh Singh were completely damaged, said Shakil Ahmad, Sarpanch of Khawas.
Meanwhile, Army rescued an Israeli mountaineer from Stok Kangri area in Siachen, at an elevation of 18350 feet density altitude.
According to Defence Spokesman, Col S D Goswami, one Israeli mountaineer had fallen unconscious. He was evacuated this morning under the formation of Wing Commander BS Sehrawat and Wing Commander KS Negi. The victim was then moved to Sonam Norbu hospital Leh.
This was a very challenging task and the degree of difficulty was high due to high altitude, steep slope, knee level snow slope, turbulent winds and restricted space. The mountaineer was spotted within 10 minutes of take off and evacuated within 25 minutes by the IAF Cheetah helicopter, the spokesman added.
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