Over 1500 vehicles stranded as NH remains blocked on Day 4

Restoration work in progress at Dalwas near Chanderkote in Ramban on Monday. —Excelsior/Parvaiz Mir
Restoration work in progress at Dalwas near Chanderkote in Ramban on Monday. —Excelsior/Parvaiz Mir

*NHAI resumes work, bleak chances of road opening in 3-4 days: DC

Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, Mar 30: Over 1500 vehicles have been stranded as Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained blocked due to sinking of major portion of the road at Dalwas near Chanderkote in Ramban for 4th consecutive day today while Meteorological Department has predicted rain from Wednesday to Friday.

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Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Nazim Zia Khan told the Excelsior that National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) today resumed the restoration work at Dalwas where about 500 meters of road stretch has sunk. More than 28 families have turned homeless while families from 11 adjoining houses which are falling in danger zone have also been shifted to safer locations.
The DC said that he along with ADC, Tehsildar and some police officers went there and pacified the protesting people. They were blaming NHAI for the sinking of the entire area due to road widening work. They were also demanding compensation before start of the restoration work. They were also convinced that all of them would definitely get compensation and some relief from district administration and only then they allowed resumption of work today.
“The Administration has arranged shelters for them and was also providing food. Some more help from District Red Cross side will be provided to these affected families. Moreover, NHAI has been asked to render help to these families as this tragedy has visibly occurred due to massive road widening activity,” Zia said.
When asked about the possibility of road clearance, the DC Ramban said, “ If weather permits it may take 3-4 days to restore traffic, but if the rain started as already predicted by MeT office, it may take some more days to restore the highway at Dalwas. A large portion of mountain stretch has sunk there and the task is very difficult as the land continued to sink there. The rain may spoil the work done by three-four machines deployed for the task today and tomorrow,” Zia maintained.
Meanwhile, official sources said that at least 1500 vehicles including most of the trucks and oil/LPG tankers, carrying essentials to Kashmir valley are stranded at Nashri, Chenani, Udhampur-Bypass, Dhar Road and Jammu-Nagrota Bypass for the last four days. Over 300 trucks which were returning empty from Kashmir are also stranded in Ramban area. Due to fresh landslides at Monkey Morh this evening, the highway was blocked between Ramban and Banihal, which was restored two days ago.
A MeT spokesman said that a fresh spell of rain is expected in J&K from March 31 to April 2. He said currently the weather is generally cloudy in Ladakh and Kashmir while it was mainly clear in Jammu area.
“A fresh spell of intermittent light to moderate rain in plains and snowfall on the higher reaches of J&K including Zojila, Drass and some areas of Pir Panchal and Zanskar region is likely to take place in coming 2-3 days,” he said.
He said as usual, it may further lead to landslides in Banihal- Ramban stretch of the National Highway. Thunderstorm with gutsy winds of the order of 30-40 kmph is also likely to occur during this period, he added.

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