Foot bridge raised for stranded nomads in Marwah
*Land sinking in Bhalwal, 5 families shifted
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 7: While Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for the sixth consecutive day today, the Forest Department raised a temporary foot bridge to facilitate over a dozen nomad families stranded across a nallah in remote Marwah area of Kishtwar district while, five families were shifted by the authorities after a major portion of land started sinking in Kheri area near Kot Bhalwal in Jammu North.
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The reports of collapse of more houses are still pouring in from various areas of the region as the communication network of several remote areas remained snapped after heavy rainfall and floods.
Reports said that rain once again hampered efforts of the National Highway Authority of India to restore traffic on the landslide-hit Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which remained closed for the sixth consecutive day today.
The pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills also remained suspended for the 13th straight day, while BRO restored traffic on Basohli-Bani road in Kathua district after bypassing the damaged stretch near Bhoond.
“The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is still closed for vehicular movement. Restoration work is going on at war-footing, ” DIG Traffic Dr Haseeb Mughal said advising people not to undertake their journey on the arterial road till the restoration work is completed.
Mughal said heavy rain again caused disruption in the restoration efforts this morning to clear nearly 250-metre stretch, which remained buried under large mass of a mountain at Thard near Udhampur. Click here to watch video
“Explosives were used to blast big boulders during morning as part of efforts to ensure early restoration of the highway. Despite the rain, men and machines of NHAI were on the job but the work was hampered due to mud and slush created by rain,” he said.
The DIG said SSP Traffic National Highway, Adil Ganai was there on the spot for the last few days constantly monitoring the restoration work. He said the Kishtwar -Sinthan-Kokernag-Anantnag road was opened this afternoon. And the road connectivity between Batote-Doda-Bhaderwah and Kishtwar has already been restored.
He disclosed that about 3000 heavy vehicles, mostly loaded with fruits from Kashmir side were allowed to move towards Jammu via Mughal Road on Sunday and SSP Traffic , Jammu Rural, Girdhari Lal Sharma and his team was deployed on the Mughal Road in Poonch to monitor and ensure free movement of vehicles.
Mughal said if the weather remained fair, the troubled road stretch at Thard near Udhampur will be cleared and the highway will be restored for movement of vehicles by Monday afternoon.
The traffic on the highway, the only all weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was suspended on September 2, only two days after restoration of partial traffic to clear vehicles which remained stranded for almost a week.
Barring the four-lane highway stretch at Thard, which is completely buried under a moving hill, the rest of the highway has been cleared for two-way traffic.
The prolonged closure of the highway, virtually for a fortnight, had left hundreds of vehicles, mostly trucks carrying horticulture produce and essential commodities, stranded on both sides.
A Meteorological department spokesperson has predicted light rain or thundershowers at scattered to many places across J&K with a possibility of moderate rain or thundershowers over a few districts of the Jammu division towards late night or early morning on September 8.
The official said the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine remained suspended. The yatra was suspended hours before a landslide triggered by heavy rains along the old track at Adhkuwari on August 26 claimed 35 lives and left 20 others injured.
Meanwhile, the BRO has restored traffic on Basohli-Bani road in Kathua district, providing relief to the stranded people.
“A portion of the road from Basohli to Bani had been washed out due to incessant rains leaving a yawning gap in the road at Tikri Morh, 47 kms from Basohli. An entirely new formation had to be cut to bypass the damaged stretch of the road. This was undertaken in treacherous weather and difficult terrain with men and machines taking calculated risk,” the PRO Defence Jammu said.
He said the link was restored, establishing connectivity to Bhaderwah in Doda district from Basohli in Kathua.
Reports from Kishtwar said that the authorities constructed a temporary wooden bridge today to facilitate the movement of stranded tribal/ nomad families.
Following the recent spell of heavy rains, all wooden bridges in the Faridabad area of Marwah were washed away, leaving several tribal families (Bakarwals) stranded after spending the summer months in the region. With no route available to return, the families made urgent appeals for assistance.
Responding promptly to the situation, and on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, the Forest Department team led by DFO Marwah, Vishal Chaudhary, swung into action.
A temporary wooden bridge was swiftly constructed on priority, restoring vital connectivity and enabling the safe return of the stranded nomad families.
Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar affirmed that the Administration remains dedicated to extending timely assistance to the needy and assured that every possible support would be provided by the administration to those in distress.
Reports said at least five families were shifted to the safer locations on Saturday evening after a large portion of land started sinking at Kheri village near Kote Bhalwal in Jammu north.
Tehsildar, Jammu North Aman Kumar Anand said that 4-5 Gujjar families from Kheri area were shifted after the land on their houses are built started sinking. He said these families were also provided immediate assistance from the District Administration. The people in the adjoining area have been asked to remain alert.
Reports from Sunderbani said that at least a dozen houses from Rah Salyot area were damaged when a major crack was developed in the middle of the hill near the village and huge water started hitting these houses. The villagers have been provided tents and ration by the administration.
Meanwhile, the traffic movement on Canal road was also disrupted after a portion of road started sinking this evening. The Traffic Police has imposed restriction on the movement of vehicles there.
In Khour and Pallanwala areas also, about 150-200 houses said to have been fully and partially damaged. The locals alleged that the power and water supply to many of these areas has not been restored.
Reports of damage to more than 30 houses have been reported from Basantgarh and Dudu Sub Divisions. The area is cut off from the district headquarters Udhampur. Moreover, mobile network also remained affected for several days there. The area is facing lot of hardships as there is no kerosene oil and LPG supply for the last many days. There is acute shortage of Atta in these two Sub Divisions, the locals of the area told Excelsior. They have urged the district administration to air drop ration in the area.
Meanwhile, at least 10 link roads in district Reasi are still blocked. The locals alleged that district administration has failed to restore roads closed for the last about eight days.
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