Kishtwar faces complete power outage
Body of flood-hit Agniveer recovered in Khour
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 29: Normal life across the Jammu region remained crippled for the fourth consecutive day today as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all-weather link between Kashmir and the rest of the country, continued to be shut due to multiple landslides triggered by the August 26 heavy rains and flash floods. The prolonged blockade has left over 2,000 vehicles stranded at different points and caused acute shortages of fuel, LPG, fresh vegetables and other essential commodities in several districts. Meanwhile, the dead body of a missing Agniveer was retrieved by the Army rescue team this afternoon from Khour sector of Jammu.
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Officials said the 270-km-long highway has been blocked at several places between Jakhaini and Chenani in Udhampur. “Restoration work has not been completed yet. No vehicular movement shall be allowed from Nagrota towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal and Srinagar,” a Traffic Police officer said. The men and machines of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are on the job to clear the road.
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Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Saloni Rai, who along with SP Udhampur Sandeep Bhat visited the flood-hit areas, said that connectivity is expected to be restored by tomorrow evening. “The calamity has caused huge damage. Restoration work is being monitored at the highest level, including by the Lieutenant Governor,” she said. Authorities have advised commuters of Katra and Udhampur to carry photo ID cards to facilitate movement.
The historic Mughal Road, connecting Jammu with the Kashmir Valley, has turned into the only alternative route after the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained closed for the past three days following heavy rains and landslides. Officials said restoration of the highway may take more time due to extensive damage.
With traffic being diverted through Mughal Road, the route has witnessed heavy rush, leaving commuters distressed over the absence of basic facilities. Travelers complained that there is no mobile network, no toilets and no proper accommodation along the stretch, making the journey risky and exhausting. “In case of an emergency, the absence of mobile service makes it impossible to seek help,” some passengers said.
District administrations of Poonch and Shopian have issued an advisory restricting movement to one-way traffic on the Mughal Road. The arrangement has caused several vehicles to remain stranded, prompting drivers to demand that the road be opened for two-way traffic to ease congestion and difficulties.
Traffic authorities informed that while Mughal Road and Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag road are open for LMVs, several inter-district roads in the Jammu region are still cut off due to landslides and road erosion, leaving dozens of villages marooned.
On the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway, traffic officials reported that one tube each of the Lakhanpur-Madhopur and Sahar Khad (Vijaypur) bridges has been damaged due to incessant rains, though the second tube of both bridges remained operational on a regulated basis.
Meanwhile, power supply was restored in most urban areas of Jammu district, but several rural pockets across Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Doda, Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur continue to remain without electricity. In Old Jammu City, many areas are facing acute water shortage, prompting protests despite the PHE Department providing water tanker services.
In Kishtwar, most petrol pumps and LPG agencies have run out of stock, while the supply of fresh vegetables and daily essentials is badly hit. The entire district is reeling under darkness as the power infrastructure suffered extensive damage in the August 26 deluge, with water supply also disrupted.
Reports from Kathua district revealed large-scale destruction in recent flash floods, with more than 50 school buildings damaged-mostly in Bani, Basholi and Kathua areas. Over 400 houses, both kuchha and pucca, have been either fully or partially damaged, along with nearly 30 Government buildings. More than 30 link roads have been washed away, while Basholi-Bani road has suffered extensive damage at Sukha nullah, Pepadi and Sheetal Nagar. PWD and GREF teams are engaged in restoration works, and some key roads such as Kathua-Billawar via Dayalachack have been reopened.
In Reasi district, several major roads including Reasi-Mahore at Malai nallah, Mahore-Gulabgarh at Damni, Mahore-Gool at Budhan and Mahore-Budhal remained closed for the fourth straight day. Dharmari-Reasi road was also blocked at Dhaman. Reasi-Katra main road remained shut with vehicles diverted via Ban Ganga road, while the Katra-Jammu main road was routed through Narayana Hospital and SMVD University road.
Pilgrimage to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day as heavy rains lashed the Katra region again today.
Meanwhile, the dead body of a missing Agniveer, Jimmi Ngmminlum Mate of 05 Assam Regiment, a resident of Sahumphai (Manipur) was retrieved today at about 3:30 PM by the rescue team of the army. The body of the deceased was found around 100 meter away from the forward post at IB. The deceased Agniveer was deployed in forward post Hamirpur Sidher in Khour sector and was reportedly washed away in August 26 floods.
Further, a human head was found lying in a pool of water in a field in Abdullian village of RS Pura in Jammu. Police suspected it may have been washed away by the recent flash floods from a graveyard located in Siar Brahmana area. They said the recovered head has been shifted to mortuary of Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu for identification through DNA testing.
Meanwhile, according to the Meteorological Department forecast, the region is expected to witness a spell of light to moderate rainfall at scattered to fairly widespread places from August 30 to September 2, with the possibility of moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers over a few districts of Jammu division.
The Department has warned of the possible flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones in vulnerable areas. It has advised people to remain cautious, stay away from rivers, streams, and other water bodies, avoid nallahs and loose structures, and take all necessary precautions during this period.
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