Ramban / Banihal, Sep 3: Following days of incessant rainfall, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) remained closed for the second consecutive day on Wednesday due to multiple landslides, mudslides, washing away of road stretches, and sinking of portions of the highway between Udhampur and Ramban.
Officials said the worst-hit stretch is from Tharad Bridge to the Petrol Pump ahead of Balli Nallah, which has sunk due to heavy rainfall.
Vehicular traffic movement on this vital road link between Kashmir and the rest of the country has remained disrupted since August 26 as fresh spells of rain triggered massive damages at several locations, including Thard, Samroli, Peera, Maroog, Shalgari, Balli Nallah, and Nachilana, besides water logging at multiple places.
RESTORATION EFFORTS AND OFFICIAL MONITORING
Official sources said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched restoration work at several stretches between Chenani and Udhampur and also between Nashri and Banihal.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Udhampur Saloni Rai, DC Ramban Muhammad Alyas Khan, and SSP Traffic National Highway, Ramban, Raja Adil Hamid monitored the restoration efforts at different locations despite continuous rainfall.
Authorities said that after round-the-clock efforts, damaged stretches between Udhampur and Chenani were made traffic-worthy on Sunday evening, allowing hundreds of stranded vehicles to ply in a regulated manner till Tuesday morning.
However, a fresh spell of rain again triggered multiple landslides, leading to complete closure.
A senior NHAI official said that restoration work in Tharad had been put on hold due to continuous rainfall.
“Our men and machinery are on spot, but we are waiting for improvement in weather conditions,” he said.
Traffic authorities confirmed that the highway was closed for all vehicular movement from Jakhani, Udhampur to Srinagar.
“No vehicle will be allowed from Nagrota, Jammu, towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, and Srinagar. Commuters from Katra and Udhampur towns are requested to keep their photo identity cards for smooth facilitation of their movement,” officials said.
Authorities have appealed to the people to avoid travel on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway till the weather improves and restoration is completed.
They also advised vehicle operators to strictly follow traffic advisories for their safety.
By Wednesday evening, the rains had stopped across most parts of the Jammu region.
HIGHWAY SUFFERS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE
SSP Traffic National Highway, Ramban, Raja Adil Hameed told Greater Kashmir that more than a dozen locations between Ramban and Banihal had been hit by landslides and shooting stones.
“In Tharad and Balli Nallah areas, the temporary stretches created earlier have been completely destroyed. A large hill in Tharad is sliding rapidly, sinking the highway with it. NHAI machinery and manpower are on standby, but restoration will have to start from zero once the rains stop completely,” he said.
Officials said that in the Ramban-Banihal sector, areas including Shalgadi, Nachilana, Panthyal, Maroog, and Peerah have been badly affected, where retaining walls and road stretches have been washed away.
A landslide has also entered one tube of the Peerah tunnel.
In the Udhampur sector, nearly 10 km of road between Jhakhani, Tharad, Balli Nallah, Dewal Bridge, and Samroli had been damaged, worsening the situation.
FEAR AND DAMAGE IN RAMBAN VILLAGES
Meanwhile, continuous rainfall has triggered widespread panic in Ramban district, with dozens of villages facing threats from floods and landslides.
Officials said that 158 houses had been damaged during the past week, including 12 completely destroyed.
Reports of damage have poured in from Banihal, Khari, Arpinchla, Mahoo-Mangat, Ramsoo, Neel, Ukhral, Pogal-Paristan, Gool-Sangaldan, Rajgarh, Batote, Sanasar, and Ramban.
Police and local volunteers shifted several families from collapsing houses in Hara Gool and Harwari Neel in Ramsoo sub-division to safer places.
Farooq Ahmad Naik, a social worker from Khari Arpinchla, said a mountain stream running through Khari market poses a threat to nearly 50 houses, three Madrassas, and a Masjid.
“Despite repeated demands to deepen and strengthen the stream, authorities never acted. Last night, the entire locality, along with QRT Khari volunteers, stayed awake in heavy rains guarding the area, but water still entered several houses,” he said.
Residents of Maitra in Ramban town said a local stream and the swollen Chenab River created panic in Maitra Lower and adjoining villages.
Locals said hundreds of people in Karool, Maitra, Seri, and Gam panchayats remained awake, fearing floods and landslides.
They said the protective wall that collapsed in last year’s floods near Maitra Lower has not been rebuilt, leaving a large settlement and floriculture parks at risk.
Police, administration, SDRF, Army, CRPF, Banihal Volunteers NGO, Himalayan QRT Ramsoo, QRT Khari, and Civil QRT Ramban remained on high alert to assist residents.
Official data said from August 26 to September 1, Ramban lost 158 houses, including 12 fully destroyed, 48 severely damaged, and 98 partially affected. Of these, 120 were Kacha houses belonging mostly to poor families.
WOMAN DELIVERS BABY ON TRAIN
Amid these grim situations, a rare incident brought relief when a 21-year-old woman gave birth to a baby boy onboard the Sangaldan-Baramulla train in Ramban district on Wednesday.
The woman, identified as Akhtara Bano, wife of Muhammad Ashraf of village Sumber, Ramban, was being taken to Government Maternity Hospital Sher Bagh, Anantnag, when she developed labour pains during the journey.
Station Superintendent Abdul Baseer Bali told Greater Kashmir that railway staff and GRP personnel, along with her relatives, created space inside the train where she delivered the child between Sumber and Khari stations.
An ambulance was summoned from Banihal hospital, but before its arrival, Banihal Volunteers NGO shifted the mother and newborn to the Sub District Hospital Banihal.
BMO Banihal Dr Shabir Ahmad Dar confirmed that both mother and child are healthy and doing well.
