Massive rescue, restoration operation on in Ramban
All 50 trapped Gujarat pilgrims safe: Admn
Jammu, Apr 21: While massive rescue and restoration operation on war- footing continues in Ramban sector which experienced devastation after heavy rain, cloudbursts and landslides on Sunday, the busy Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is unlikely to be restored by at least next five days.
Over 20 JCBs and excavators and loaders have been deployed on the highway to clear the debris, mud and landslides while a dozens of other private JCBs have been hired to trace the buried vehicles, shops and other properties of the people in Ramban town and Seri areas.
Project Director National Highway Authority, Ramban-Udhampur Sector, P K Phonsa told the Excelsior that 18-20 JCBs/ Excavators besides some loaders have been pressed into service to clear the blocked highway.
“Our priority is to first clear 10 km stretch of the highway from Karol to Maroog which is badly hit. We will make single passage in the first instance and also trace and remove vehicles buried under the debris on the highway,” Phonsa said.
Responding to a question, Phonsa said men and machines of Gammon, Bharat, DRA, Tata Group construction companies have been engaged to carry out day and night work. But the rain and shooting stones disrupted the work on Sunday and even today during the day. He said main focus will be 10 kms stretch.
“It may take at least 5-6 days to clear the road for single passage. The road has caved in at many places. The issue is where to dump the huge muck. For clearing this highway fully, it may take at least two months time,” NH Project Director added.
A senior Traffic Police official said that traffic between Kashmir and Jammu has been diverted to Mughal Road. The light vehicles were released on both the sides in the afternoon. Long traffic jams have been reported on Mughal Road at many places due to fresh landslides, the road is narrow.
With the closure of highway a large number of passengers have been stranded at Jammu. Many of them have been accommodated at private community halls by the local administration.
The power supply to Ramban and adjoining more than a dozen villages has been snapped. Many link roads are also closed due to land and mudslides. The communication to villages and hamlets has been snapped. More than 35 trapped/buried vehicles were removed from the debris in Ramban area today. The vehicles have suffered extensive damage.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar said that flash-floods and landslides triggered by heavy rain and cloudbursts severely affected nearly a dozen villages in Ramban district. He said the local authorities have mobilised resources to restore essential services and provide relief to the affected people. He said various teams are on the ground to assess the damage.
Efforts are underway to provide an alternative road connectivity through the Mughal Road and the Sinthan Top road to the Kashmir valley as restoration of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway could take time due to the massive damage, he said.
Heavy rain, coupled with cloudbursts and thunderstorms, on Sunday claimed three lives and left a trail of destruction in the district.
Cutting across party lines, political leaders urged the Centre to declare the tragedy a “national disaster” and provide adequate financial assistance to the families affected to restart their lives.
“About 10 to 12 villages, including Seri, Bagna, Panote and Khari, have suffered high degrees of damage and our teams are on the ground to make a complete assessment so that the affected population are provided relief,” the Divisional Commissioner added.
Kumar visited the affected villages and was briefed about the situation by Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary.
“Restoration of essential services, including water and electricity, is underway and joint teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, police and other agencies are on the ground to improve the situation,” he said.
The Divisional Commissioner said the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has suffered extensive damage, with certain stretches sunk and washed away while some others were buried under sludge and boulders.
“The highway will take time to get restored, even as our efforts are underway. We will have to check the cracks for stability. The retaining walls have also been damaged,” Kumar said, advising the stranded commuters to utilise the alternative Mughal Road and the Sinthan Top road for the time being.
He said efforts were being made to make the Mughal Road, connecting the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu to south Kashmir’s Shopian, two-way as soon as possible to allow heavy vehicles carrying essential commodities to the Valley.
The Sinthan Top road connects Kishtwar with Anantnag in Kashmir but a fresh spell of snowfall forced its closure three days ago. Work is underway to restore the link.
Meanwhile, the police, Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, along with civil volunteers, have been at the forefront to provide relief, especially to hundreds of the stranded commuters and tourists.
After assessing the ground situation, a Defence spokesperson said the Army initiated immediate action in coordination with civil administration officials.
“While no emergency requisition has been made, civil authorities have assured they will seek army assistance should the need arise,” the spokesperson said.
He informed that all the 50 pilgrims from Gujarat trapped/ stranded in Ramban area are safe. Many passengers have been accommodated in the temporary camps established by the local administration. They are being provided food and other facilities.
He said Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) from Banihal, Karachial, Digdol, Maitra and Chanderkote were rapidly mobilised to provide relief to the stranded travellers.
Army personnel extended support by distributing tea and hot meals, offering temporary shelters, and providing basic medical aid to those in need, he added.
As the landslide-hit National Highway remained closed for the second consecutive day on Monday, the reopening of the Mughal Road connecting the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu to south Kashmir’s Shopian district brought huge relief to the stranded people.
The authorities had initially decided to restrict traffic on the recently-opened Mughal Road to one way — Kashmir to Jammu. However, the all-weather National Highway’s closure prompted the diversion of traffic and the deployment of additional police personnel to ensure smooth movement on both sides, officials said.
Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The Mughal Road, which usually remains closed during the winters due to heavy snowfall, especially in Peer Ki Gali, was reopened after three months for one-way traffic on April 15.
However, inclement weather, including fresh snowfall, forced its closure on April 18. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) mobilised its men and machinery and managed to make it traffic-worthy again.
The Centre has already announced a tunnel on the road to ensure year-round connectivity between the two regions on either side of the Pir Panjal.
The officials said massive traffic congestion was witnessed in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch due to a sudden increase in the number of vehicles moving to and from the Kashmir valley.
Almost all the roads of Rajouri and Poonch linked to the Mughal Road are heavily choked, with law enforcement agencies facing a tough time regulating traffic, especially in Thannamandi, Surankote and Chatta Pani to Peer Ki Gali, they said.
The road is single-way at a few locations between Chatta Pani and Peer Ki Gali, causing traffic movement to be slow, they added.
“We are planning to undertake a clearance operation tonight to widen the road, which is snow-bound at various locations,” a BRO official said.
With the restoration work underway, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic Rural today said that it will take some time to reopen the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
Speaking to reporters, SSP RP Singh said that the Mughal Road has been opened for Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs).
“The restoration work on the highway is currently underway. It will take some time to restore it. Our teams are on the job,” he said.
In the meantime, Singh said the Mughal Road has been opened for LMVs following clearance from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
“We will work to keep it open for heavier vehicles as well, so that essential supplies can reach the Valley,” he added.
The SSP also said efforts are on to make the Mughal Road functional for two-way traffic to facilitate smoother movement.
“But that depends on the road-opening authorities and the latest advisories. We have to go by what is recommended,” he said.
He advised commuters to plan their travel in accordance with official advisories to avoid inconvenience.
