Traffic restored on NH, temp improves
* Admn shifts families to safer places
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 9: Nine residential houses and one Govt Primary School developed cracks and turned vulnerable after sinking of land in Mandi area of district Poonch while traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH) was restored despite rain today.
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With sun shining during the day today across the region, some improvement in the temperature has been experienced. However, rain again lashed Jammu areas during evening for about an hour.
A senior Traffic Police official said that more than 1000 vehicles stranded in Ramban, Peerah, Chanderkote and Banihal area were cleared during night hours till this morning. While fresh movement of vehicles from Kashmir and Jammu side, including heavy vehicles, was also allowed. He said still one tube is operating at two- three places but traffic remained operational despite light rain during the day in the sector. He said Batote- Kishtwar highway is also operational.
Meanwhile, reports from Poonch said that due to heavy rains, land has started sinking at Mohalla Ratan Katha, near village Chikhriban in Tehsil Mandi of District Poonch. A team of civil and police administration visited the spot today to take steps for safety of the residents there.
Locals said that a landslide occurred two years back in this area during which administration had rehabilitated three families and provided assistance under SDRF as well. Now, again during the rainfall from past many days, the land at this place started sinking. They said nine residential houses and Govt Primary School Ratan Katha have developed cracks. Locals have requested the administration for assistance to ensure their safety.
Today, on the directions of the Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Ashok Kumar, a team headed by the Assistant Commissioner Revenue Poonch, Mohd Sayeed along with the DySP Hqrs Poonch Neeraj Sharma; Tehsildar Mandi, SHO Loran, Younas Khan; SHO Mandi, Nikku Ram; Revenue officials, and local representatives visited and met with the people at landslide and land-sinking affected area in Chikriban area.
ACR Poonch, Mohd Sayeed said that during visit to the area, nine houses and one Primary School were found vulnerable. The school has been shifted to a nearby private building today. Alternate accommodation has been identified for the vulnerable houses/affected families residing in the land sinking zone.
Though the families have preferred to stay in the houses of relatives but a relief camp has been established on the spot under the supervision of Naib Tehsildar Loran, Kamal Verma for overall monitoring and assistance. No loss of life has been reported so far. Additionally, two Government buildings have been identified for shifting purposes.
Meanwhile, Jammu recorded a minimum temperature of 12.2 degrees Celsius, and maximum 25.5 deg C, showing considerable improvement.
Katra town recorded a day temperature of 23 deg C, Bhaderwah 15.5 deg, Batote town 16. 0 deg while Banihal 16.6 deg C on Thursday. However, the night temperature at Bhaderwah was 3.4 deg C, Katra 10.7 deg C and Batote 5.4 deg C today.
The MeT office has predicted brief spell of light rain during evening hours in next two days. The weather will remain partly cloudy on April 11 and 12 and on April 13 and 14, it will be generally dry weather, it said.
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