Srinagar-Jammu closed for 6th day, over 7000 vehicles stranded
The prolonged closure of the 270-kilometre Srinagar-Jammu National Highway due to landslides triggered by inclement weather has been a norm for the last several decades.
Locals from Banihal recollect that due to a heavy snowfall in 1985-1986, which had led to closure of the highway for almost two weeks is one of the longest road closures in the last four decades. In 1991 also, a heavy spell of snowfall had led to the closure of the road for several days.
“There are so many times when the road has been closed for more than a week. Vehicles getting stranded and commuters, drivers suffering has been a norm for decades now,” said Muhammad Taskeen, a local from Banihal. He recollected the tragic incident of a snow storm at the Jawahar Tunnel in 2005, due which several lives were lost and highway closed for many days as “a major tragedy” due to which highway was closed for more than one week. Due to a major landslide at Nihad in Ramban during 2018, the highway had remained closed for 10 days.
Last year in March, a major portion of road sunk at Dalwas between Ramban and Batote resulting in closure of the highway for 9 days. Ever since excavation work has been undertaken for road widening, there have been frequent cases of landslides and shooting stones at Samroli located between Udhampur and Ramban resulting in closure of the road for days together every winter.
In the Ramban to Banihal stretch the most vulnerable spots where road closure for several days due to landslides has been taking place are at Panthyal. At Digdole where a portion of road sunk last year had led to one week closure of the highway. The road has been closed for more than a week more than five times in the last ten years due to landslides at Maroog and Cafeteria Morh.
Mompasi between Magarkot and Banihal has been another vulnerable spot for landslides due to which the road has remained closed for continuous one week or more for the last many years.
At Gangroo between Ramsu and Banihal during 2015-16 Border Roads Organisation had taken 10 to 15 days to make the road travel-worthy after heavy landslides had damaged a vast portion of the road.
Bailey Bridge nearing completion: Govt
Deputy Commissioner (DC), Ramban, Nazim Zai Khan and Chief Engineer BRO, Brigadier IK Jaggi Friday inspected progress of construction work of Bailey bridge besides repair work of damaged concrete bridge, here at Kela Morh.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Harbans Lal; Project Director, NHIA, Parshotam Kumar; ASP, Rajni Sharma and several other officers of BRO and the construction agencies were present on the occasion.
After taking stock of the progress of the work, the DC informed that construction of Bailey bridge is nearing completion and the trial run would be conducted tomorrow before opening it for traffic.
He said that the construction of the Bailey bridge is going on round the clock and 50% of the bridge launching work was completed by Friday morning.
He said that the perishable supplies have been transhipped and sent to their destinations.
The Chief Engineer BRO informed that the work is in progress as per plan. “BRO has put all the resources available for completing the bridge. Work is going on at war footing as all men and machinery have been put to use. Hopefully, by tomorrow evening the Bailey bridge will be completed and ready for traffic” he informed.
Meanwhile, Civil QRT Ramban, Banihal, Ramsu and other organizations are helping the pedestrians to by-pass the damaged portion at Kela Morh safely.
