Excelsior Team
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Feb 6: While the traffic on Jammu- Srinagar National Highway was restored today, the people held massive protest demonstration against Government and took out a strong rally in the main market, followed by day long dharna in Poonch city against electricity and water crisis today while eight houses and two Government school buildings were damaged in wind storm in Mendhar area.
Reports from Ramban said that the traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was restored after the GREF men cleared the boulders from the sliding zones at Panthal, Seri and Battery Chashma in Ramban area this afternoon. As the weather was fair today, the BRO men and machines cleared the highway. A large number of light, medium and some heavy vehicles stranded at many places were cleared. Most of the vehicles moving towards Kashmir were first allowed but some trucks trapped at certain points were also later allowed towards Udhampur this evening.
IGP, Traffic Muneer Ahmed Khan said that National Highway was reopened for traffic after snow was cleared from Jawahar Tunnel area and landslides cleared from other patches near Ramban today. He said the stranded vehicles between Batote and Banihal were cleared first and this was followed by restoration of traffic from Jammu to Srinagar. Mr Khan said around 800 vehicles including 400 load carriers and other passenger buses besides medium and light vehicles stranded between Udhampur and Ramban crossed over to Valley by this evening. Nine SRTC buses that started from Jammu in the afternoon reached Ramban this evening. They will also be cleared for Jawahar Tunnel by tonight, he added.
Mr Khan further said that subject to fair weather conditions, all kinds of vehicles will be allowed towards Jammu from Srinagar tomorrow and on Friday, the traffic will be allowed from Jammu to Srinagar. He said slippery conditions still exist at Panthal and the Traffic police men have been asked to take precautions while allowing vehicles in this troubled area.
A report from Poonch said that entire city has been plunged into darkness for the last three days while people are badly suffering in view of acute shortage of drinking water as well. Huge rush has been witnessed at the natural water sources and people have to wait for hours to get just a bucket of water. Some of them have been forced to get water from the river.
Today, the local people irrespective of their political affiliations, assisted Beopar Mandal and several other social organizations assembled near Pritam Park at around 10 am and took out a massive protest rally against District Administration and the State Government. They shouted slogans against the Chief Minister, concerned PHE and PDD ministers and also the Divisional and the District Administration. They burnt the effigy of the Chief Minister and demanded dismissal of the Government. They alleged that the Government which is unable to provide essential services like drinking water and power, has no right to remain in power.
After passing through various markets, the protesters reached the City Chowk and sat on day long dharna. They raised slogans in support of their demands and against the Government and Administration. Several local leaders also addressed the gathering. They pointed out that the area is facing this crisis in fact for the last about more than one month now after heavy snowfall, but the Government has failed to restore electricity fully. The local district officers were merely giving false assurances while those at the top sitting in the Civil Secretariat in Jammu are least bothered of the public plight. They said the Administration will have to face the public wrath if the services were not restored within two days. The protesters then dispersed at around 2 pm.
Meanwhile, the traffic on Jammu-Poonch road remained disrupted for about two hours after a boulder struck the road near BG during the day today. The policemen and locals managed to break the boulder and restore traffic on the road.
Reports from Mendhar said that tin roofs of Govt Middle School, Sarula and Govt Primary School Khet got damaged while two houses also falling in the same block (Balakote) were partially damaged in wind storm last evening. The houses belonged to Mohd Ayaz and Mohd Maroof, residents of Dhar Galoon. In Harni area, there are reports of partial damage to five houses while four houses in Mendhar area were damaged due to windstorm last evening. Power supply to many areas has also been badly affected.
Reports from Rajouri said that Thannamandi, Dera Gali-Bafliaz road was still blocked while traffic to Kandi-Budhal was restored today. The power supply to over 70 % areas in Budhal has been snapped for the last three days and could not be restored. The people are facing lot of hardships in view of power crisis. They sought intervention of Chief Minister into the matter. The traffic on Basohli-Bani road was also restored by GREF men this afternoon. About a dozen vehicles had been stranded on other side of the land slides near Kardoh for the last two days.
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