Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 18: Massive landslides blocked the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district this evening leading to stranding of over 2000 vehicles. In view of severe damage to around 70 meter stretch of the road no fresh movement of the vehicles from Jammu as well as Srinagar would be allowed tomorrow.
Reports said that massive landslides blocked the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Seri near Ramban at around 3.30 pm prompting the Traffic Police to immediately stop movement of fresh vehicles from Jammu as well as Srinagar.
About 70 meter stretch of the highway has suffered massive damage due to the landslides and completely been turned into steep slope from the mountain up to river Chenab, said SP Ramban, Anil Magotra, who personally inspected the spot.
DIG Traffic Jammu, Shakeel Ahmed Beig, when contacted, said that soon after the landslides caused massive damage to the highway instructions were passed against allowing fresh movement of vehicles from Jammu as well as Srinagar in order to avoid jamming on the highway and inconvenience to the passengers.
In response to a question, the DIG said that due to blockade of the highway over 2000 vehicles got stranded at various places. These include around 400 passenger vehicles. The passenger vehicles have been stranded at Ramban, Chanderkote and Kud.
“As there was up convoy (Jammu to Srinagar) today, around 2600 vehicles crossed the Jawahar Tunnel before the landslide blocked the National Highway”, Mr Beig said, adding “in view of massive damage to the stretch of the highway at Seri no fresh vehicle would be allowed from Jammu as well as Srinagar tomorrow”.
“Following the restoration of damaged stretch preference will be given to the stranded passenger vehicles and then load carriers”, the DIG said while advising the people to get prior information from the Traffic Control Units about reopening of highway before undertaking journey.
Though Border Roads Organization (BRO), which is responsible for maintenance of National Highway, pressed its men and machinery into service to remove the debris and make the highway traffic worthy, it had to stop the work after sometime as stones started shooting down from the mountain at Seri.
In response to a question, official sources said, “Border Roads Organization has not given any time-frame for the restoration of the damaged portion of the highway. However, it will start restoration work tomorrow and try to make the stretch traffic worthy within shortest possible time”, adding “if the weather remains favourable, there are chances of highway being restored by afternoon or evening”.
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