Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 6: Over 1700 stranded Kashmir bound passenger vehicles were cleared this evening after the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was reopened on the 5th day today while fresh landslides affected 46 families of Kalsan village near Bagial Dhara (LoC) in Poonch and 40 families in Sanasar area of district Ramban on Thursday.
The Kashmir bound passengers held strong protest demonstration at Jammu Bus Stand demanding their airlifting to Srinagar while Minister Incharge Transport A G Kohli along with RTO Jammu and senior officials from District Administration assured them of every possible help.
IGP Traffic, J&K, Muneer Khan told the Excelsior that Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was reopened at around 5 pm this evening after the BRO men and machinery cleared boulders near Panthial and fresh landslides at Hingni, Gangroo and Magarkote. Mr Khan disclosed that highway was one way at these bottle necks and till late this evening 1700 light and medium Kashmir bound passenger vehicles which had been stranded at Batote, Chanderkote, Peerha and Ramban areas were cleared.
The IGP further said that tomorrow morning (Saturday) from 4 am to 10 am, all type of passenger vehicles will be allowed to move towards Kashmir from Jammu and Udhampur while from 10 am to 12 noon, goods carriers loaded with essential commodities, stranded at Udhampur, Dhar Road and even Nagrota will be allowed to move towards Kashmir. No movement will be allowed after 12 noon. This movement is subject to fair weather conditions, Mr Khan said.
When asked about the status of highway at main bottlenecks, the IGP said Kheri near Udhampur was the major problem but that was cleared yesterday and passenger vehicles were allowed to move towards Srinagar but two fresh slides near Gangroo, Higni in Ramsoo area created trouble. The vehicles remained stranded and the district administration Ramban made some necessary arrangement for the passengers. He said even today passage for the single vehicles was created and single movement was allowed at these two points. At one point near Gangroo, the road had sunk. The BRO men are on the job to improve the road condition, Mr Khan maintained.
Reports said that over 3000 trucks and other load carriers have been stranded at Udhamur, Dhar Road, Mansar Morh, Nud Samba-Mansar Road, Sallan-Dayala Chak-Dinga Amb Road and Nagrota-Bypass Road.
A Met official said that in next 24 hours light rain may occur at some places of the State while on March 8 heavy rain and snowfall at many places is expected for the next 36 hours.
Meanwhile, the stranded Kashmir bound passengers held strong protest demonstration at Jammu Bus Stand as they have been struck here for the last 4-5 days. They were raising slogans against BJP-PDP Government and Administration. They demanded that the stranded people be airlifted. Later, Minister of State for Transport Abdul Ghani Kohli, RTO Jammu A K Sharma and some officials from District Administration went to the agitating passengers and assured them every possible help.
Reports from Poonch said that at Kalsan village near the LOC in Bagial Dhara, massive landslide hit the village last evening. Sensing trouble the villagers left their houses and ran away. No human casualty was reported while over a dozen houses got buried under the debris. Total 46 families have been evacuated to the safer places at Govt school building and Panchayat Ghar at Degwar.
The DC Poonch and SSP along with Tehsildar and other officials rushed to the affected village and provided blankets, ration and some eatables. The Army authorities also provided food to the affected villagers. They have been temporarily rehabilitated in Govt buildings and the Administration is planning to provide them some alternate land. Some cattle are said to have perished in the landslides. The goods of many families have also buried under the debris.
Reports from Udhampur said that a Government Primary School and nearly 40 houses got perished in a fresh landslide in Sanasar area of district Ramban. Nearly 150 souls have taken shelter in the houses of their relatives and other villages and in a school. Thus area is snow bound and Patnitop-Sanasar road is already closed. There is on foot passage to the area from Phanderkote side to this village namely Chode falling under Sanasar Panchayat. The Administration has failed to reach the affected villagers.
At Ghan village in Sarthal area of Kishtwar, landslide has blocked the link road and also damaged three houses. These families have been shifted to the safer location. A local water spring- the life line of the local people has also perished under debris.
Meanwhile, several link roads in Dudu-Basantgarh, Pancheri-Landhar area of Udhampur, Mahore-Gool, Basohli Bani and Billawar areas of Kathua besides parts of Rajouri, Ramban and Doda areas still blocked. The power supply to many areas has also badly affected.
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