NH blocked for 4th day due to sinking of land at Batote

Tahir Mushtaq

RAMBAN, Mar 20: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for the vehicular traffic on the fourth consecutive day due to the sinking of land at Batote besides other parts of the district followed by incessant downpour at several places.

Whereas the highway has been made operational for one-way traffic between Ramban and Banihal by the concern authorities but at Batote as road caves-in due to which the traffic remained suspended between Ramban-Jammu National Highway.

Official said that hundreds of vehicles in which thousands of passenger are stranded on the highway due to caving-in of around hundred metres of road near Batote town, due to which both Srinagar-Jammu and Batote-Kishtwar highways were closed.

Owing the continue land caves in Batote town of district Ramban, resulting the damaging of highway and residential houses including six houses which were completely damaged while around a dozen others, including structures inside CRPF 48 BN cantonment, due to sinking of the land. However, there was no report of loss of any life.

District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ramban Bashir Ahmed Dar reached on the spot to assess the condition of the area. District administrations assure every possible help to the families whose house get damaged.

Meanwhile, the aggrieved families alleged that the administration is not doing anything to rehabilitate them as they are under open sky from the last 24 hours.

They said that continue rainfall is adding our woes and it is very difficult for them to cope up with the situation in this bad climate whereas the district administration has not offer any kind to help in rehabilitating.

DDC Ramban said that the administration is on work with the help of men and machine to clear the highway and successful open the road for vehicular traffic, but unfortunately the land near Batote start sinking from yesterday night due to which the highway between Ramban-Jammu again blocked.

He further said that if weather remains dry it will take two more hour to clear the road adding that after which the passengers and tourists who were stranded in district Ramban will allowed to moved to their destination.

He maintained the traffic officials’ daily announced the current status of the national highway, but the people overhear the announcements of the concern department and start their journey due to which the create problem not for them but for others too.

“Our first priority is to make sure that the stranded passengers will reach their destination safely after that the administration will allow the vehicular traffic from both side on national highway” DDC added.