Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 5: Continuous rain and snowfall have thrown normal life of the people out of gear as Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed due to land slides on the second consecutive day, many flights were delayed, two houses and a school building were damaged causing injuries to about half a dozen students whereas, over 1000 vehicles have been stranded on the Highway at different places due to blockade.
The power supply continued to remain disrupted to many areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Mahore, Ramnagar, Dudu-Basantgarh, Billawar, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar and parts of Jammu and Samba districts for hours together as the power infrastructure has suffered huge damage due to strong winds and continuous rain in the entire region.
Huge rush of passengers was witnessed at Jammu Bus Stand as Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed for the last two days. There was no scope of opening of this road even tomorrow as fresh land slides at three places between Ramban and Banihal have surfaced. The BRO men are unable to work due to shooting stones in Panthal, Nachlana, Seri, Bettery Chashma and Makkerkote area.
Massive hail-storm in parts of Jammu including Gajansoo-Marh, Gho- Manasa, Jhiri, Miran Sahib, R S Pura and Suchetgarh belt caused extensive damage to the crops of the farmers during the day today. The farmers said that over 80 per cent of their crop has been lost due to this calamity. The power supply to many rural as well as urban areas has been badly hit due to lightening and blowing of strong winds. Many electric poles got uprooted and cables broken. Not only this, the other power infrastructure has also been damaged.
In Poonch town, there is no power supply since last evening while in many areas of this district including Mandi, Loran, Surankote, Bafliaz, Mendhar, Mankote and Balakote, the power supply has been badly hit. In Poonch city, the water supply has also been badly affected. Poonch-Mandi-Loran, Mandi-Suajian road, Surankote- Bafliaz-Dera Gali and Thannamandi roads are also closed. In Rajouri, also the power supply has been snapped while, Kotranka (Budhal)-Mahore-Gool road is closed due to fresh snowfall. Jammu-Poonch road remained blocked between 7 am to 12.30 pm today due to land slides near Batta Dhurian ahead of BG today. The BRO men cleared the road and restored traffic this afternoon. Fresh snow fall was reported in the evening at BG and the road was again closed.
In Mendhar town the water from a flooded nallah entered into many houses and about half a dozen shops causing damage to the public property during last night. The people spent sleepless night and remained busy in saving their belongings. Then they came out on the road at around 7 am and held protest for about three hours against GREF authorities which had abandoned the work on a small culvert, causing inconvenience to the people. Later, SHO and some GREF officials came and pacified the agitating public. Power and BSNL services are also affected in the area. In Kalakote area, two `kucha’ houses were damaged during the day due to rain but no loss of life was reported. A kucha shop was also partially damaged in the same area.
About half a dozen 9th class students of Govt High School, Kunain in Ramnagar tehsil were injured after tin- roof of the school building got uprooted due to wind- storm at around 3 pm today. Nearly 70 students were inside. Most of them hid them selves under desks and save their lives while some started running for their lives. Some tins, bricks and stones fell on them and about 7-8 students got injured in the mishap. However, no human loss was reported. Due to rain and snowfall Ramnagar-Majori-Dudu-Basantgarh road has also been closed.
Reports from Kathua said that Basohli-Bani road near Kardoh and Magiar was closed since yesterday due to land slides. Lohai- Malhar and Katli-Billawar roads in tehsil Billawar are also closed. The power supply to these areas was totally snapped. In Duggan block of Bani there is no power for the last over one month.
DIG Traffic, Shakeel Beigh said that due to landslides at five places between Ramban and Banihal, the Jammu-Srinagar Highway remained suspended on the second day. He said shooting stone is the major worry snow in Jawahar Tunnel area is not much and it is melting fast. The road clearance work was suspended by GREF men due to risk of being hit by shooting stones. If the weather remains fair, the road will be opened tomorrow but the chances are still bleak. He disclosed that nearly 1000 goods carriers were stranded on the highway including Nagrota-Bye Pass and Dhar road. In between Udhampur onwards and Banihal around 300 vehicles were there but all of them were at safe places. He disclosed that Udhampur-Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road was through but many link roads were closed.
At Patnitop point there were slippery conditions due to snow fall but traffic was moving slowly and the machines are also clearing continuously.
SP Airport Ashok Sharma said that majority of the flights at Jammu airport were delayed due to bad weather. He said most of the flights were late by 2 to 3 hours. Air India flight between Delhi-Jammu could not land here due to strong winds and had to be diverted to Srinagar. Many flights took off late from here due to unfavourable weather conditions and last Delhi bound flight took off at round 6.05 pm instead of scheduled time of 4.25 pm this evening. The chopper service to Mata Vaishnodevi was also hit due to bad weather while there was not much impact on the train traffic in the region.
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