LG Meets Flood-Hit People In Jammu City, Promises Government Support
Jammu-Srinagar NH Shut For Vehicular Traffic For 9th Day
Shadow Correspondent
Udhampur, Sep 09:
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today visited the Thard Village at Udhampur and reviewed the ongoing restoration works on National Highway-44.
The Lieutenant Governor was briefed by RS Yadav, NHAI Regional Officer, J&K on the deployment of men and machinery for speedy restoration of National Highway. It was informed that the team is working round the clock and one lane will be open to traffic soon.
The Lieutenant Governor also interacted with the affected families and enquired about their wellbeing.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor visited the Health Camp organised by the Health Department at Gujjar Bakerwal Hostel, Jakhani, Udhampur and inspected the healthcare facilities at the Camp for the flood-affected families. Balwant Singh Mankotia, Member of Legislative Assembly from Chenani; Pawan Kumar Gupta; Member of Legislative Assembly Udhampur West; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Secretary, Health and Medical Education; Ms Sarah Rizvi, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range; Ms Saloni Rai, Deputy Commissioner
LG Manoj Sinha visits
Udhampur; Amod Nagpure Ashok, SSP Udhampur, and other senior officers accompanied the Lieutenant Governor. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today visited the mega Health camp for flood affected families, organised by the Health Department, at Rajeev Colony Jammu.
The Lieutenant Governor interacted with the affected families. He patiently heard their concerns. The Lieutenant Governor assured the families that the Government of India and J&K administration is committed to the wellbeing of the people affected due to recent natural calamities in the UT.
The Lieutenant Governor was accompanied by Shri Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Shri Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Secretary, Health and Medical Education; Dr Rakesh Minhas, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; Shri Devansh Yadav, Municipal Commissioner Jammu and other senior officials.
Meanwhile, The 270-kilometre-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for vehicular traffic for the ninth consecutive day on Tuesday, with work underway on war-footing to restore a badly damaged 250-metre-long stretch in the Udhampur district.
The Doda-Kishtwar road and Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road, connecting the Union Territory of J&K with Ladakh, have also been closed due to landslides, officials said.
The highway has remained closed due to multiple blockades since August 26 following torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides, but was reopened for traffic for a few hours on August 30. In total, the highway has been closed for 15 days.
“The highway is still closed for vehicular movement from Jakheni (Udhampur) towards Srinagar and vice versa due to road blockages between Jakheni and Balli Nallah. No vehicular movement shall be allowed from Nagrota (Jammu) towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, Srinagar, and vice versa,” a traffic police advisory said.
It further advised that commuters heading to Katra and Udhampur towns should carry photo ID cards to prove their identity, ensuring smoother movement.
The men and machines of the NHAI are working on war-footing to restore the badly damaged stretch of the highway due to a massive landslide at Thard and the washing away of a part at Balli Nallah area, they said.
They added that it is the most difficult stretch as the highway had to be rebuilt here in the wake of a massive landslide.
Six large rocks, which were the main hurdles in the restoration of the highway stretch, were blasted and removed on Monday, and three more rocks were excavated to pave the way for removing additional obstacles, the officials said. “It has proved to be a big challenge. With this, the road is beginning to clear, and the blocked highway will soon be opened for traffic.”
While most of the landslides, mudslides, and falling stones were cleared from the highway in Ramban and Udhampur, the 250-meter-stretch remained buried under a hill at Thard in the Udhampur district, following the washing away of portions of the highway.
The pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta Hills also remained suspended for the 15th consecutive day.
The Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri Highway is also closed due to a landslide near Rusool Mode in the Zojila belt, they said, adding that restoration work is ongoing.
“People are advised not to undertake the journey on the highway until the road is fully restored,” they said.
Traffic on the inter-regional Mughal Road, connecting Jammu region’s Poonch district with Kashmir’s Shopian district, is moving smoothly, while the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road is closed due to landslides.
The closure of highways and other inter-regional roads to Kashmir has resulted in over 4,000 vehicles getting stranded at various places in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, the Kashmir Valley, and Punjab, they said.
Jammu and Kashmir has suffered damage to nearly 12,000 kilometers of road length, including the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, in recent floods and landslides, officials said.
Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha visited the Health Camp at Keso Manhasan, organised by Health Department in collaboration with AIIMS Jammu for flood-affected families.
At the health camp, the Lieutenant Governor interacted with the people undergoing health check-ups and listened to their concerns.
The Lieutenant Governor said the Army, CAPFs, NDRF and district Administration’s quick response in the wake of incessant rain saved many lives.
“We are resolved to supporting the people of Jammu Kashmir through this difficult time. The Government of India and the J&K Administration are fully committed to not only restoring the damaged infrastructure but also complete rehabilitation of affected families.
The recent natural calamities caused massive destruction throughout the Jammu region, which has not experienced such events on this scale for a very long time.
The Centre in coordination with J&K Administration is currently assessing the damage to essential infrastructure like road, power, water supply, education and health, caused by the recent natural calamities. The team has also visited several affected districts in the Jammu region,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He said the complete restoration of infrastructure will require some time, but the administration is focused on providing immediate relief to the affected population.
The Lieutenant Governor said the farming community has been severely affected by the recent natural calamities. He urged farmers across the Jammu region to take advantage of the benefits of PM Fasal Bima Yojana and Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).
The Lieutenant Governor also expressed gratitude to the Director and the entire team of AIIMS Jammu for organising the health camp for the flood affected families and also discharging their moral responsibility towards the healthcare of the people of Samba.
Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah during his recent visit to Jammu emphasized that health camps should be set up in every Panchayat for flood-affected people.
AIIMS Jammu will be organising 9 more mega health camps and J&K health department, CAPFs, BSF, CRPF, Army are also organising similar health camps. I urge the people to visit these camps and avail healthcare services.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor visited Devak Bridge near AIIMS Jammu at Vijaypur, Samba. The bridge suffered damages due to incessant rains and increased water levels. He directed the officials to expedite the restoration work.
The Lieutenant Governor was accompanied by Shri Keshav Dutt Sharma, DDC Chairman Samba; Shri Chander Parkash Ganga, Member of Legislative Assembly from Vijaypur; Dr Devinder Kumar Manyal, Member of Legislative Assembly from Ramgarh; Shri Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Dr. Shakti Kumar Gupta, Executive Director, AIIMS Jammu; Shri Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Secretary, Health and Medical Education; Shri Shiv Kumar Sharma, DIG Jammu -Samba -Kathua Range; Ms. Ayushi Sudan, Deputy Commissioner Samba and other senior officials.
