Come rains, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, instead of boon, which it in fact is, very often turns out to be a disadvantage, if not a curse. As of now, due to torrential rains, landslides, sinking in of road patches in vulnerable Ramban- Ramsu- Banihal sector, as many as more than 4000 vehicles are stranded on the National Highway. Worst affected Ramban , as always, alone reported 400 vehicles stranded and waiting to move. Though as compared to the position of yester years, this highway has been vastly improved upon , widened, dotted with tunnels and other improvements brought about due to which not only the travelling time between the twin capital cities is considerably saved but driving comforts and bypassing of very sensitive points where frequent landslides were occurring, have accorded special importance to this highway, still frequent landslides wreak havoc at times on it. Having said that, there are a few spots especially in Ramban- Ramsu – Nashri area where torrential rains of a few hours make things very trying and the hardships due to landslides and slipping of the road patches as difficult to endure. Many a time, in addition to loss of property , precious human lives too are lost.
Landslides in vulnerable Ramban sector at MorhGhori and other two places in the same area resulted in snapping of link between Jammu and Srinagar as blockades made movement of traffic impossible. Dalwas area which started sinking at many places was followed by repair and restoration works which included cutting of a soft stone mountain which , however, was objected to by the residents as they complained damages caused to their land and wanted compensation. . In fact, the efforts to restore traffic were stalled by such impediments as fears of the affected villagers are not without reason. Such types of resistance from the area residents have occurred in the past too and only after the intervention of and assurance from the District Authorities as happened in the instant case, repairs and associated works were allowed to be carried on. It may be recalled, it is the same area which suffered a massive damage last time as an entire cushy and soft type of mountain had sunk in disrupting traffic for days together. At the outset, kuccha make shift road is made to let the held up traffic crawl back to respective destinations. Continuous rains and landslides coupled with sinking in of road patches in shooting stone areas have made things difficult in areas besides in Dalwas , at Battery Cheshma, Digdole, Monkey Morh etc. We realise the difficulties faced by the concerned agency as also by the administration in restoring traffic after making repairs and removing of debris and landslide material but what is needed is intensifying the efforts and ensuring the stranded vehicle owners and the occupants faced minimum difficulties. Geological and Engineering experts too at times cannot predict the characteristics of the mountains through which the highway passes in this sector and a permanent solution to the problem in this sector needs to be found out.
Any repairs and make shift arrangements for movement of traffic in the affected areas , however, is subservient to the weather conditions and since there are intermittent rains but in torrents , the position of restoration of traffic becomes hazy even if work is reportedly continuing towards that end. Still, the highway maintaining agency is otherwise promptly looking after and ensuring the motor-ability of the National Highway which is nothing less than a lifeline for Kashmir valley and the areas en-route as even for Ladakh region.
Moreover, flood like situation has been observed in different parts of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir causing damage to public and private properties and snatching precious lives.
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