NH remains blocked for 10 hrs after land, mudslides at Ramban

Cloudburst hits 4 villages, no much damage

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 8: The busy Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained blocked for over ten hours for the vehicular movement today morning due to mudslide/ mudslides triggered by heavy rain in Ramban district while with cloudburst four villages suffered some damage in the area.

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Official sources said that heavy rain during early morning hours triggered heavy landslide and mudslides at several places however, the massive damage to the highway was caused at Seri, Chamba and Trishul Morh in Ramban sector. With this the movement of traffic o the bisy highway came to halt at around 7 am today.
“The vehicular movement was suspended on the highway from both the sides while police along with civil administration and NH authorities forced machinery to clear the road and restore the traffic,” a senior official; said.
He said that vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the highway for long and the stranded passengers e had to face tough time. The operation clearance was restored on war footing.
The highway could be restored at around 5.15 pm and the stranded light vehicles were cleared first followed by heavy vehicles. Sources said that traffic jam was created for long on the highway.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Ramban Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary visited several sites along the National Highway-44 (NH-44) damaged due to fresh mudslides.
Accompanied by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kulbir Singh, and SSP Traffic National Highway, Raja Adil Hamid, monitored the ongoing restoration work at Seri and other affected locations across the district.
The National Highway was closed for traffic after a fresh cloudburst today morning and subsequent mudslides at over five locations, severely impacting vehicular movement and stranding commuters.
Taking stock of the work in progress, the Deputy Commissioner said that restoration of traffic movement on NH-44 is the top priority to ensure that stranded vehicles and passengers reach their destinations safely. He informed that adequate manpower and machinery have been pressed into service to expedite the clearance operations.
The Deputy Commissioner also informed that the cloudburst has significantly affected villages like Bagna, Maroge, Balihote, and Sincha. Assessment of damages and immediate restoration work will start soon in these areas to mitigate the impact on local residents
Further, the district administration is providing all possible assistance, including food and other essential items, to stranded drivers and needy individuals.
A Meteorological Department has predicted spells of rain and thunderstorms at several places in Jammu and Kashmir over the next few days.
“The weather is expected to remain partly cloudy with light to moderate rain and thundershowers on May 7-8,” a Met official said.
He stated that the similar weather, including gusty winds, is likely from May 9 to 11 at scattered to fairly widespread places, while May 12 may witness brief showers at isolated locations.
“Generally cloudy with light to moderate rain and thunder most likely over Uri, Gulmarg and many parts of Baramulla, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Kangan-Sonamarg axis, parts of Budgam and Srinagar including Dal Lake and adjoining areas,” he added.
The official further said that Tral, Pahlgam, many parts of South Kashmir and of Jammu region including Poonch, Rajouri, Banihal-Ramban axis, few places of Reasi and Udhampur will also face the similar weather condition.
The advisory issued by the MeT has urged the public to follow all administrative and traffic guidelines.
“The department has warned of possible landslides or mudslides in vulnerable areas due to intense showers and a significant rise in day temperatures is also expected in the Jammu Division starting May 13,” he said.

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