As the heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to Srinagar-Jammu National Highway leading to its closure, the J&K government has said that Mughal Road, an alternative route to the Valley, should be utilized for the traffic movement.
According to SSP Ramban Mohita Sharma, "The continuous rainfall over the past few days in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir has caused unprecedented damage to National Highway-44, especially to the stretch in Ramban district, necessitating its closure for traffic."
Three persons were killed in landslides. Two of them were killed when the bus they were traveling in was hit by a landslide on the Thathri-Gandoh road in Doda district. Another elderly person was found dead in the flooded Tarnah Nallah in Kathua district.
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The water level in the Chenab River at Akhnoor has risen 4 inches above the danger mark, prompting authorities to issue a red alert for all low-lying areas of Akhnoor. In Ramban, the water level of the Chenab River has risen by about 4-5 meters. On Saturday, a major portion of the road near Tunnel T-5 (Panthyal) collapsed. The situation worsened on Sunday as floodwaters washed away around 60-70 meters of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
As the highway remained closed for the past three days, over 5,000 vehicles are stranded at various locations along the Jammu-Srinagar highway. However, the water level of the Jhelum River in Kashmir receded considerably on Sunday evening after surpassing the danger mark earlier in the day bringing relief to people.
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Local politicians are blaming “flawed” development models for frequent landslides in Raman stretch. “Highway that is life line for Kashmir, Ladakh. More importantly most strategically important route to Ladakh where a large army is facing a formidable enemy. Have been raising issue since 2017 about sustainability of alignment, in conflict with topography ,” tweeted PDP senior leader Naeem Akhtar.
In April this year, the Union Minister for Highways and Transport, Nitin Gadkari, visited the area. During his visit, the minister inspected a 924-metre-long Banihal-Qazigund tunnel, which will bypass a nearly 3 km landslide and accident-prone area in the Ramban district. Five tunnels have been thrown open between two main major tunnels of Qazigund-Banihal and Chenani-Nashri tunnel and three more tunnels are under construction.
On Sunday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha held a meeting with senior administrative, police and Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board officials to review the arrangements for pilgrimage and restoration of Srinagar-Jammu highway. The Lt Governor was informed about the restoration work of the damaged stretch at Panthyal Ramban which is being carried out at “war footing,” a government spokesman said.
According to the government press release, the Lt Governor said necessary men and materials should be stationed at key locations for timely actions and maintenance of roads. “He directed officials to continuously monitor the situation and take necessary steps without any delay. The meeting also discussed the utilization of Mughal road and other alternative roads for traffic movement,” the official spokesman said.
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The 84-km long Mughal road links Kashmir Valley with the Poonch district of Jammu and has provided an alternative link road to the Valley since it was opened for traffic in 2010. The road passes through the Pir Panjal mountain range, at an altitude of 11,500 ft (3505 m) which is higher than the Banihal pass.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in April this year stated that his Ministry has taken up projects worth Rs 1,25,000 crore in Jammu and Kashmir and counted the Mughal Road project as a top priority. Gadkari also announced that a tunnel would be built at Peer Ki Gali on Mughal Road to make the road all-weather. The road remains closed for almost seven months a year.
