BHADARWAH: Continuous rainfall for the last three days resulting in landslides and shooting stones at numerous places forced authorities to suspend traffic on all major roads of district Doda including 110 Km long Batote-Doda-Kishtwar NH1B for third consecutive day.
Due to continuous hostile weather, district administration also ordered closure of all the educational institutions for second day today.
“On the instructions of DC Doda , I have ordered the closure of all the educational institutions including private schools for the day as the weather is creating havoc for the last three days and it’s not advisable to keep educational institutions open under these circumstances,”said Chief Education Officer Doda Mohd Ashraf Rather.
Torrential rains coupled with spine chilling winds for the last three days have literally paralysed the life in this hilly district as all the roads are closed resulting in very thin attendece in government offices. Schools and colleges have also been closed and several essential commodities have started disappearing from the market.
” We are trying our best but continuous shooting stones at numerous places on Batote-Thatri stretch of highway are badly hampering the restoration work. In this hostile weather, we cannot risk the lives of civilians that’s why we have suspended traffic on all the major and link roads of the district. We will try to restore traffic as soon as the weather improves,” said SSP Doda Zahid Naseem Manhas.
“We are even worried for the scores of candidates who have to appear tomorrow’s written test for the post of constables at Doda but are stranded at Batote, Gandoh, Thathri, Bhadarwah and several other places. Although we have informed higher ups about the prevailing situation,” SSP added.
According to reports some vehicles which were stranded on Batote -Doda- Kishtwar National Highway were allowed to move yesterday evening.
” We managed to clear all the stranded vehicles yesterday evening as the road was cleared of debris for a couple of hours but soon were forced to stop the traffic again as there were fresh landslides and shooting stones at half-a-dozen places including Malhori, Pakki-hatti, Dansal, Ragi-Nullah, Kora Pani and 9th km,” said DTI NH1B Shabir Ahmed adding that as of now traffic remains suspended on all the roads of the district.
Army evacuates stranded civilians from landslide area, provides aid
STATE TIMES NEWS
DODA: With the incessant and heavy rains again wracking havoc in the Chenab Valley region, the passengers on the National Highway 244 were again at the receiving end due to road blockage. Jammu Srinagar Highway remained blocked at areas Ramsu, Painthal, Sherbibi and Gangroo due to massive landslides that occurred late afternoon on 17th March 2016 due to heavy rains and continued throughout the night. Stranded passengers faced hardships due to road closure and non availability of basic amenities. 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. Approximate 250 passengers were provided meals, drinking water and emergency medical aid. Amongst the distressed were ladies, children and senior citizens. Over 200 sets of blankets, sleeping bags and balaclavas have been provided to the evacuated travelers.
Another column provided relief to more than 200 stranded passengers in the areas of Tathar and Gund at the nearest Rashtriya Rifles camp.
“Delta Force is providing relief to as many stranded passengers as possible, especially elders, ladies and children in the camps nearby. The relief shall continue till the time road opens.” said one of the Commanding Officers of the nearby unit. As the road condition worsens further due to incessant rains it is very difficult to carry out road opening operations.