STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: Bhadarwah-Doda Road connecting this hilly Valley (Bhadarwah) with rest of the State was closed on Friday morning when a huge landslide and boulders hit the road after torrential rains since morning at Bhalla area,15 km from Doda.
After remaining closed for a couple of hours yesterday, 30 Km long Bhadarwah-Doda Road was closed again this morning due to a massive landslide and shooting stones after torrential rains at Bhalla area near Malothi Morh on Bhadarwah- Doda Road.
Due to landslide more than 400 passenger vehicles, LMVs and those carrying essential commodities got stranded on both sides of the damaged stretch.
However, after remaining out of service for nearly 12 hours, the Bhadarwah-Doda Road was restored in the afternoon.
The road which is the only road link connecting Bhadarwah Valley with rest of the State was thrown open for one way vehicular traffic at 4:00 PM after clearing the debris.
The road was closed since 3:30 AM Friday morning due to massive landslides and shooting stones trigged by heavy rain and possible cloud burst last night at Bhalla near Malothi Morh in district Doda. “30 km long Bhadarwah-Doda Road has been reopened for vehicular traffic after clearance of the landslides,” DTI Doda Shabir Ahmed said.
“BRO had carried out extensive restoration exercise by engaging men and machinery since early in the morning for this stretch hit by landslides leading to blockades and traffic jam,” officer added.
Border Road Organisation engaged three machines, bulldozers, drillers and dumpers to clear the debris.
“Continuous shooting stones hampered clearence work resulting in closure of the important road continuously for more than 12 hours, although men and machinery had been kept on standby for immediate response,” said a BRO officer from 114 RCC.
” As of now we have restored one way traffic on Doda-Bhadarwah Road but while plying on these roads extra caution is required as there is apprehension of shooting stones on this stretch for a couple of days,” officer added.
Meanwhile people, especially students heaved a sigh of relief after opening of the all-important road link as dozens of students have to appear in enterance examination tomorrow at Jammu.
” I have been stranded since 7:00 AM, as I have to appear in entrance examination tomorrow at Jammu. I was scared that i won’t be able to make it in time,” said a student Haseeba Chowdhary from Udrana Bhadarwah.
