STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: Torrential rains from early morning have created havoc in the whole Chenab Valley.
Continuous rainfall in Chenab Valley has paralysed the normal life as mercury has dipped too low leading to the bone chilling weather in whole area.
Like other parts of the State, Chenab Valley also experienced heavy to moderate rainfall which has triggered landslides at Raggi Nallah and other areas due to which the vehicular movement on Batote-Doda-Kishtwar National Highway (NH1B) was disrupted. Torrential rains once again blocked Batote-Doda-Kishtwar Highway due to landslides and heavy boulders near Ragi Nallah, due to which vehicular movement came to stand still.
According to stranded passengers, landslide took place at Raggi Nallah near Assar this morning, leading to stranding of vehicles carrying essential commodities and passengers.
“After getting information, concerned authorities reached the spot with men and machinery and started work to restore the vehicular movement, but it was not restored till last report came in.
The vehicles on both the sides are stranded and work was on to restore the movement of the vehicles on the National Highway.
Shooting stones and landslides are feared due to heavy rainfall as the entire stretch of Batote-Kishtwar Road is landslide prone and vulnerable to shooting stones.
“Rains to continue till Saturday afternoon. Rainy season is a common affair during the month of March-April, there is no need to panic but some sort of caution is necessary “, said an official of MeT Department.
Higher altitude of whole Chenab Valley has experienced normal snowfall.
Border Road Organisation (BRO) which is entrusted with the job of maintenance of Batote-Doda-Kishtwar NHW have put their men on job to make the road through which is the only connectivity to the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar having over 11 lakh people.
Later, the road was cleared but traffic movement will remain suspended today.
“Due to shooting stones at several places on Doda – Batote stretch of NH1B and landslide at Khelani and keeping in view safety of the passengers higher authorities have ordered suspension of traffic. Hence no vehicle will be allowed to move from either side on Doda-Batote stretch,” said DTI NHIB Shabir Ahmed.
