Doda, Kishtwar districts still under darkness
Gopal Sharma /
Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Feb 13: While more than 3000 vehicles were cleared towards Kashmir despite continuous shooting stones and frequent disruptions on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban sector today, a villager was killed in an avalanche in the higher reaches of Ramban district while entire Doda and Kishtwar districts and many parts of Ramban were still reeling under darkness for the last about one week.
The hills of Kashmir today received fresh snowfall while it was raining intermittently in the Valley even as the weatherman has forecast wet weather for the next 24 hours across the State.
Official sources said that light landslides and shooting stones at Marog, Anokhi Fall and Panthyal area of Ramban caused temporary disruptions in the movement of vehicles towards Kashmir during the day today. After clearing road several times the one- way movement of vehicles was restored. Another landslide hit the road at Marog at 7.30 pm. However, bulldozers were deployed to clear the highway.
IGP Traffic, J&K, Alok Kumar told the Excelsior that movement of vehicles on Tuesday continued till late night. Today again, the movement of vehicles was allowed towards Kashmir in the morning after taking review of the road condition at slide zones. He said till this evening, 2000 light motor vehicles carrying passengers to Valley and around 1000 trucks loaded with goods and other essentials were pushed towards Kashmir.
Kumar further disclosed that there was temporary disruption again at Marog late this evening and traffic will be restored shortly. Kumar said about 1500 vehicles were on way to Kashmir and they will be allowed to move towards Kashmir till the weather permits. He said the Met department has predicted rain and snowfall overnight and even tomorrow and the highway may be closed after fresh rain overnight. If weather permitted, tomorrow again trucks and oil/cooking gas tankers towards Kashmir will be allowed, the IG said.
A senior official from Ramban said that a villager came under avalanche while crossing a Nallah at village Rungali Dudrathn about 28 kms from Ramban, at the higher reaches of Pir Panchal this morning. The villagers rushed to the site and after long efforts managed to trace his dead body under the snow at around 2.15 pm.
The deceased was identified as Salam Din, son of Mirbaaz , resident of Rungali village, under Ramban police jurisdiction. The police party along with medical team was sent to the village which after performing legal formalities handed over the body to the family for last rites.
Meanwhile, reports from Doda, Bhaderwah, Inderwal and Kishtwar said that many link roads were still closed due to heavy snowfall. These two districts besides several blocks of Ramban were still reeling under darkness as broken/ damaged towers could not be restored even after one week. Large area of Bhallesa, Gandoh, Dessa, Marmat, Kashtigarh etc is still cut off. There is still 2 to 3 feet snow on the roads, the reports added.
The people from Bhaderwah town held strong protest demonstration at Seri Bazaar against the State Administration and PDD authorities as power supply could not be restored till today. The people alleged that they were facing lot of hardships due to snapping of power supplies. They are unable to charge their mobile phones and warm their room under such cold conditions. Many electronic systems are non-operational due to snapping of power supplies. Later, local administration assured them to take up the issue with the higher authorities.
Sarpanch Manoo in Bhalessa area, Mohd Kala Char told the Excelsior that a serious patient Lakhmi Chand, son of Chuni Lal could not be airlifted from the snow bound area and was brought on cot on foot by the villagers but later he died while being shifted to Doda hospital. He said that Administration should pay attention towards the plight of people from snow bound far flung area.
Meanwhile, the hills of Kashmir today received fresh snowfall while it was raining intermittently in the Valley and the Weatherman has forecast wet weather for next 24 hours.
Srinagar and other parts of Valley received rains and hills had fresh snowfall. The Meteorological department official said that the wet weather will continue for next 24 hours. He added that during this period Valley will be lashed by rains and hills will receive snowfall.
“Keeping in view the advisory issued by MeT department, there may be chances of heavy snowfall/rain in J&K, may lead to disruption on the highway. Therefore subject to fair weather/clearance of the road tomorrow on February 14 only stranded vehicles shall be allowed towards Srinagar,” a Traffic department official said.
He said around 4000 vehicles crossed the Jawahar Tunnel during last 24 hours. These supplies included 2400 passenger vehicles, 500 trucks, 238 vegetable trucks, 63 trucks loaded with sheep, 77 gas tankers, 507 Oil Tankers, 187 Tata mobiles mostly carrying vegetables, 35 trucks loaded with gas cylinders, 88 loaded with poultry and a passenger bus.
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