Though the State Government claims to have the expertise to handle any disaster arising out of climatic change but given the conditions for the last one week on the national highway where trucks are lined up due to landslides and stone falling one still doubts the efficacy of the government assertions. The rains have created havoc in the whole region and the worst affected were at several places on Doda – Batote stretch of NH1B. State Government has provided airlifting of stranded passengers in Jammu as well as in Kashmir. The national highway is still closed due to landslides near Ramban and Ramsoo, leaving behind a trail of muck. There have been fresh landslides at Mehar in Ramban and other places near Ramsoo blocking the highway. The highway, the only all-weather road link between the Valley and rest of the country, is the worst affected due to vagaries of weather thus making road journey risky, unpredictable and expensive for people. One can hope the much talked Chennani-Nashri Tunnel is officially opened for traffic thus bringing much needed relief for the road users. The tunnel not only cuts down the travel timing but would give all weather connectivity to both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir which remains a victim of unpredictable weather. At present whatever the disaster management force the State has is mostely comprised of Home Guards who are not trained efficiently to carry out rescue operation during the emergency. State needs a calamity-centered disaster management system which can foresee and take quick evasive action wherever and whenever required.
