Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Sept 11: Hundreds of passengers and vehicles were abruptly stuck on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for indefinite period following a major landslide and consequent damage to a bridge today at Modh Passi, near Balli Nallah, around 10 kms from Udhampur town.
Even as men and machinery were immediately pressed into service and work was going on war footing, there seemed no possibility of resumption of vehicular traffic on the National Highway in next 24 hours as extent of damage to the bridge was yet to be ascertained after removal of debris from the site.
According to the SSP Traffic, National Highway, Sanjay Bhagat, there was no possibility of early re-opening of the highway and hence the stranded passengers should prefer to put night stay at the nearby safe places where they could reach easily and get eatables.
Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Ravinder Kumar told the Excelsior that extent of damage to the bridge would be estimated by the Engineers of Gammon India Ltd tomorrow morning around 7.30 am and the further picture will be clear only after that.
The major landslide took place around 4.30 pm today at Modh Passi, near Balli Nallah and within seconds, the site at the National Highway was filled with mounts of debris, which also damaged bridge on the road thus completely blocking vehicular traffic on both sides.
Fortunately, there was no loss of life in the sudden landslide as vehicles plying on the stretch managed to reach safer sides. Within seconds, a big stretch of the road and some portion of the bridge got filled with mounts of debris.
Immediately after the incident, the Udhampur District administration was quick to respond and officials from Police and civil authorities were rushed to the site by DC Udhampur Ravinder Kumar, who had assumed the charge only this afternoon.
Gammon India Ltd, which is engaged in the Udhampur-Chenani four laning project, has pressed its men and five machineries for removal of the debris from the site and the work is going on war footing, Ravinder Kumar informed and added that further picture would be clear tomorrow morning after experts assess extent of damage to the bridge.
As per Sanjay Bhagat, SSP Traffic, National Highway, around 250 trucks on way from Srinagar to Jammu were stranded on the National Highway due to sudden road blockage while maximum of the passenger vehicles have moved to nearby locations for night stay. “The Control Room has flashed the message for stranded passenger to reach their nearby safe locations for night halt and maximum of them have reached to the places as per their suitability,” he added.
Around 50 passengers, stuck near the landslide site towards Chenani side, were evacuated by the authorities and then shifted to Udhampur in two specially arranged SRTC buses.
Till last reports came in, the work on removing debris from the road and bridge was in progress and officers of Police as well as civil administration were personally camping the area.
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