AFTER a partial relief for four days, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was again closed today, stranding over 400 vehicles en route. Officials said fresh landslides had struck in the stretch between Magarkote and Ramban, clogging the highway. Also, boulders had rolled down at Panthal, ahead of Ramban, which is a shooting stone area.
Continuous snow at Banihal since Friday night also led to accumulation of snow near the tunnel, and the Border Road Organisation has begun the road clearance work.
Sources said that over 186 load carriers and over 200 Army vehicles have been stranded. Even though light passenger vehicles were not allowed to move on the road, a few Tata Sumos and Gypsies did take the road.
On Sunday, the movement of traffic will be allowed from Jammu to Srinagar, but only if the weather permits. All vehicular traffic will be required to cross Nagrota by 10 am, and no movement would be allowed beyond Ramban after 3 pm.
Earlier, the Highway had been closed for over a fortnight and much relief had come on Tuesday when the road was opened. The 35-km stretch between Ramsu and Banihal had suffered over 30 landslides. With the highway opening, the Valley had heaved a sigh of relief as the essential commodities supply was restored. However, light motor vehicles have yet to get a green signal.
People leg it from Mahau-Manget
Even as the administration and the state government failed to reach upper reaches of Doda district and areas around Banihal, over 50 people of Mahau-Manget villages walked down to Banihal today. Sources say the villages, which are 35 km ahead of Banihal, have been totally cut off, and it took a two-day trek for these people to come down. Though no loss of live has been reported from the villages, the villagers say property has been damaged. Even during summers, Mahau-Manget remains inaccessible, with no road connection from Banihal.
Meanwhile, the Wadhwan area in Doda, bordering Anantnag district, continues to remain inaccessible even after over 20 days of snow tsunami. Deputy Commissioner, Doda, Gulzar Ahmad Quereshi says he area, which has a population of over 8,000 people, has no police or Army post, and aerial survey here has also not been possible. ‘‘We are stressing on heli-borne relief in the area, which would be possible only if the weather improves,’’ he said.
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