Joint ops continue in Ramban
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 22: While several joint teams have been deployed by the Administration for the rescue and restoration work in Ramban area which faced devastation after heavy rain, cloudbursts and landslides on Sunday, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is likely to be restored (single way) by next two days.
An official spokesman said that about two JCBs/excavators have been engaged in the rescue and restoration of the National Highway. Huge mud/landslides and boulders have been accumulated on the highway at many places. In Ramban town and Seri area about a dozen more machines/JCBs have been deployed for removing the buried vehicles, and other non-movable properties of the people.
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The spokesman said that the cloudbursts at 3-4 places brought thousands tons of debris from the mountain and covered roads and lanes in Ramban town besides Seri area. He said the priority of the Government is to clear highway and restore traffic. The area between Karol and Maroog is badly hit. More than 3 kms area towards Banihal from Ramban town has been cleared while the work towards Nashri is also going on, on the war footing. One way highway is likely to be restored by next 36 to maximum 48 hours, he added.
SSP Traffic Jammu Rural, Girdhari Lal Sharma said that traffic between Kashmir and Jammu has been diverted to Mughal Road. Light vehicles including Tempo Travelers are being allowed on both the sides. He said the road is narrow at many places near Pir Ki Gali and ahead of Behramgalla on Poonch side and the BRO has been requested to widen the road. For the time being, heavy vehicles are not being allowed on the road.
The power supply to Ramban and adjoining more than a dozen villages has been snapped. The water supply has also been badly hit during last three days. The water tankers have been pressed into service in some areas which have been cleared. The link roads are still closed due to land and mudslides. The communication to villages and hamlets has been snapped. Dozens of trapped/buried vehicles have been removed from the debris. Today, the power supply to about 50% town has been restored by today evening, a PDD official said.
The Sinthan Top road connecting Kishtwar in Jammu with Anantnag in Kashmir has also been cleared after fresh snowfall. Some of the vehicles are being diverted to this road to contain rush and traffic jamming on Mughal Road.
Meanwhile, the police, Army and CRPF personnel, along with civil volunteers, have been at the forefront to provide relief, especially to hundreds of the stranded commuters and tourists. The Quick Reaction Teams of Army from Banihal, Karachial, Digdaul, Maitra and Chanderkote were mobilised to provide relief to the stranded travellers.
Army personnel extended support by distributing tea and hot meals, offering temporary shelters, and providing basic medical aid to those in need.
As the landslide-hit Highway remained closed for the third consecutive day today, the reopening of the Mughal Road connecting the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu to south Kashmir’s Shopian district brought huge relief to the stranded people.
A large number of heavy vehicles/ oil tankers have been stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Some oil tankers will be diverted via Mughal Road tomorrow for Kashmir.
Almost all the roads of Rajouri and Poonch linked to the Mughal Road are heavily choked, with law enforcement agencies facing a tough time regulating traffic, especially in Thanamandi, Surankote and Chatta Pani to Peer Ki Gali.
The road is single-way at a few locations between Chatta Pani and Peer Ki Gali, causing traffic movement to be slow.
“We are planning to undertake a clearance operation tonight to widen the road, which is snow-bound at various locations,” a BRO official said.
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