One dead after
being hit by big boulder on NH-1A near Battery Cheshma
Tahir Mushtaq
RAMBAN, Mar 18:
The Traffic authorities today allowed one way traffic on every busy
Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, which was closed for the landslides triggered
after heavy rainfall in district Ramban and today was opened partially to clear
the stranded vehicles to their respective destinations.
While talking to
Early Times Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic Ramban Sanjay Kotwal
said that Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was blocked yesterday near Battery
Cheshma, Panthial, Gangroo and Ramsoo on Ramban-Banihal highway of district
Ramban after the landslides were triggered on various places along highway due
to heavy rainfall from the past some days.
"Today
early morning due to heavy landslide at Chanderkote near Kunfar Nullah,
Batote-Ramban highway also closed for around five hours," said SSP
(Traffic), further adding, "fresh landslide has been witnessed at Nashri
area, but machines are on work to clear the highway."
"Restoration
work on national highway is going on. Men and machinery are on job. There will
be no fresh movement of traffic on the national highway either from Srinagar or
Jammu. Only stranded vehicles are being allowed," Traffic official
specifically added.
He said,
"Around 550 light motor vehicles have been moved on towards Srinagar which
was stranded from yesterday evening at Ramban whereas around 2000 light motor
vehicles for Jammu have been permitted to move.
"While
trucks and other heavy vehicles will also be cleared after light vehicles"
he said.
Meanwhile, a
driver was found dead on Friday a day after he was hit by a big boulder on
National Highway near Battery Cheshma area of district Ramban.
The deceased was
identified as Ayaz Ahmed son of Abdul Qayoom Wani who went missing last evening
after a boulder hit him. Volunteers and QRT team launched a rescue operation
and recovered his body this morning.
Army today
rescued around 250 civilians stranded on Jammu-Srinagar national highway in
Ramban district.
"With the
incessant and heavy rains again wrecking havoc in the Chenab Valley region, the
passengers on the National Highway were again at the receiving end due to road
blockage," S N Acharya, officiating defence spokesperson here said.
He said
Jammu-Srinagar Highway remained blocked at areas Ramsu, Painthal, Sherbibi and
Gangroo due to massive landslides that occurred due to heavy rains.
"Stranded
passengers faced hardships due to road closure and non availability of basic
amenities," he said, adding that to provide succour to the aggrieved
passengers, Rashtriya Rifles Battalion under Delta Force located at Nachlana
mobilised resources to provide meals and other allied facilities on the spot.
A column of
Delta Force of almost 100 troops reached the landslide area and almost 30
families stranded with 100 males, 30 females and 30 children were evacuated to
the nearest Rashtriya Rifles camp, said the spokesman adding, "around 250
passengers were provided meals, drinking water and emergency medical aid".
"Delta
Force is providing relief to as many stranded passengers as possible, especially
elders, ladies and children in the camps nearby," he added and said the
relief will continue till the time road opens."
Harshita Paul,
16,a resident of Kolkata, who was coming back with her parents from Srinagar
towards Jammu after a wonderful trip, got stranded with her family for almost
10 hours without any food and water.
She said,
"We were given hot food and warm blankets by the army after we were
evacuated from the site". The prompt response and goodwill gesture was
appreciated by the locals and the stranded passengers.
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