Even as fresh landslides have hit Reasi and Ramban, the authorities have said National Highway between the two capital cities Jammu and Srinagar is likely to be opened soon. The NH is closed for the last 5 consecutive days due to heavy rains which have triggered landslides at at several vulnerable places leading to closure and disruption of traffic from both the sides.
However, restoration work is going on with huge men and machinary in place to clear the blockades on the main road connectivity between two cities. Union Minister and MoS in the PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh, on Friday visited the flash flood-affected stretches of the National Highway at Thard and Bali Nalla in Udhampur district.Dr. Singh was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Saloni Rai, senior officers of NHAI, and other central authorities to assess the situation.
The Union Minister said that restoration work is underway on a war-footing basis and is being carried out round the clock. “The Srinagar National Highway is likely to be restored by late tonight,” he assured.The strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH44) is witnessing closure due to multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains in the Udhampur-Ramban belt. Over 600 vehicles are said to be stranded at various places enroute.
The 270 km long stretch, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was blocked by multiple landslides at several places between Jakheni and Chenani in Udhampur district. As per traffic police, no vehicular movement will be allowed from Nagrota in Jammu towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, and Srinagar. The commuters belonging to Katra and Udhampur towns are requested to keep their photo ID cards to prove their identity so that their movement can be facilitated smoothly.
However, men and machines of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are working on war footing to clear the highway of blockades, which occurred on Tuesday following heavy rains and flash floods. The Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag highway is also closed for vehicular movement. However, the movement of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) has be allowed on the historic Mughal Road connecting twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region with the Shopian district of Kashmir region, subject to fair weather and good road condition, after getting a green signal from road maintenance agencies.
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