Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 10: One of the two tubes of the Jawahar Tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Banihal was closed after it developed cracks and some pieces of loose rocks fell down this morning.
According to a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) official, the restoration work has been started and the closed tube would reopen within two days.
He disclosed that seepage caused loose rocks to fall through an unlined area within the tunnel, also causing some cracks, prompting closure of the tube to undertake the necessary repairs.
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He further said that a portion was damaged by it and after a joint inspection of experts from various departments, including Geologists, the repair work was started this afternoon and the tunnel is expected to be completed by tomorrow morning.
“We are hopeful of throwing the tube open for traffic anytime tomorrow,” he said.
Senior police officers, including the Deputy Inspector General of Doda-Ramban-Kishtwar Range, Rafiq-ul-Hassan and SP Ramban Mohan Lal visited the spot to take stock of the situation.
This highway is the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country. The other alternate highway, is the Mughal Road which remains closed during harsh winters.
Official sources said that the tunnel was constructed during early 1950’s and was made operational in December 1956. It provides all weather connectivity to Kashmir with the rest of the country. This tunnel has been renovated by the BRO several times over the past several decades to ensure it stays open.
SP Ramban, Mohan Lal told the Excelsior that at around 7.30 am some portion of rocks fell inside Left (Up convoy tube of the Tunnel) and some cracks were developed.
He said immediately after receiving information, DIG Rafiq- Ul-Hassan and he rushed to the site. The BRO men and security officials at the Jawahar Tunnel immediately closed this tube for traffic. The vehicles trapped inside were diverted to other tube through the inter-connected passages.
The SP further disclosed that it happened at 1.65 kms, almost at the middle of the Tunnel. About 20 mtrs unlined area inside has been affected. He disclosed that entire traffic has been diverted to the right tube. Yatra convoy was cleared smoothly while other traffic was stopped. Some traffic jams are also taking place but additional police force and traffic ops have been deployed to make the flow of traffic smooth.
The SP disclosed that Geologists and senior engineers from GREF also examined the site and discussed the strategy to carry out repair work. He said that machinery and some work force from adjoining over nine kilometer long tunnel under construction has been diverted to this tube for carrying out repair work on war- footing and it is expected to be completed by tomorrow. He said that as per experts there is no much damage suffered by the tube and after repair, the tunnel will be safe for the journey.
He said this is the portion where some rocky portion has been left without carrying out work of raising semi-concrete wall. There is seepage inside the tunnel and some portion of loose rocks have fallen. But there was no casualty as few vehicles were moving in the tunnel at that time.
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