CM Omar visits Udhampur to oversee restoration of NH-44 at Thard
Shadow Correspondent
Poonch, Sep 17:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that this year’s heavy rains have caused severe damage in the state.He also assured affected families that the government will provide relief and seek a significant financial package from the central government.The Chief Minister met the families affected due to land sinking in Kalaban Village.Speaking to the reporters, Omar Abdullah said, “… This year’s rains have caused significant damage in Jammu and Kashmir… We will use whatever financial resources we have to provide relief to the people. We are also in close contact with the central government… We will place our demands before them for a significant package for Jammu and Kashmir…”Nearly 400 residents of Kalaban village in the Mendhar subdivision of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district have been shifted to temporary shelters after several
“This year’s rains
houses developed cracks due to land subsidence triggered by continuous rainfall, officials said on Monday.Authorities, with the support of a local NGO, are providing relief material and essentials to the displaced families. The administration has declared Kalaban unsafe and directed residents to evacuate until further notice.On September 13, nearly 700 people were affected, and about 95 houses were damaged after days of heavy rain. Families housed in relief camps are being supplied with food, drinking water and other basic amenities, officials said.Meanwhile, the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage has resumed today after being suspended for 22 days due to heavy rainfall and landslides.The reopening of the pilgrimage has brought relief and joy to devotees, many of whom had been waiting in Katra for the shrine to reopen. Pilgrims from across the country have started arriving, expressing happiness that their long wait has finally ended and that they will now be able to seek blessings at the holy shrine.A pilgrim from Nagpur said, “We were waiting for the past four days for the yatra to resume. We had tickets for the 20th but were about to cancel them. Last night, we received a notification that the yatra would restart. I am very happy, and now I will be able to complete my yatra. Mata Rani will fulfil my wishes and keep everyone happy.”
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday inspected the ongoing road restoration works at the severely damaged Tharad area along the vital Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
This is his second visit to the area amid mounting concerns over hundreds of trucks — including those carrying Kashmiri apples to outside markets and essential supplies like fuel to the Valley — being stranded there.
On Tuesday, Abdullah participated in a high-level virtual meeting chaired by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to review the status of restoration of the highway, which suffered heavy damages during record rainfall on August 26 and 27.
“During his on-spot assessment of the NH-44 restoration work, the chief minister, accompanied by Minister Javed Ahmad Rana, directed the officials concerned to expedite the process, noting that the prolonged closure is severely impacting the supply of essentials, including fresh fruit,” the chief minister’s office said in an X post.
A three-kilometre stretch between Tharad and Balli Nalla in Udhampur district was completely buried under a massive landslide during the rains. Several locations between Jhakani and Nashri, and Peerah and Banihal also suffered extensive damages.
During the inspection, the officials concerned briefed the chief minister about the prevailing conditions and assured that they are doing everything possible to keep the highway open in spite of frequent inclement weather.
Abdullah asked the chief secretary to ensure lane discipline and regulate traffic on the highway to facilitate smooth clearance.
He also met the families whose houses were damaged and assured them proper rehabilitation, an official said.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Abdullah had highlighted the difficulties faced by fruit growers and traders due to prolonged closure of the highway and urged the Union Minister for uninterrupted passage of heavy vehicles.
He said that while blacktopping and maintenance of the road is necessary, it must not come at the cost of prolonged disruption of vital traffic movement. “Blacktopping can wait for its turn. But large vehicles, especially 4-axle and 5-axle trucks, cannot be diverted through Mughal Road. This is the only route available for them. A huge number of trucks are stranded on the Kashmir side alone, clearing this backlog is crucial,” he said at the meeting. Abdullah said the fruit season is at its peak and delays in transportation are causing heavy losses to growers and traders.
Gadkari assured the chief minister that his concerns would be addressed, and said the backlog of trucks and other heavy vehicles would be cleared on priority before blacktopping resumes.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today visited the affected stretch of NH-44 at Thard Udhampur to take stock of the ongoing restoration works.
He was accompanied by Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs; Balwant Singh Mankotia, MLA Chenani; Saloni Rai, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur; Amod Ashok Nagpure, SSP Udhampur; Adil Hamid, SSP Traffic; besides senior officers and members of the local public.
During the visit, R.S. Yadav, Regional Officer J&K NHAI, briefed the Chief Minister about the progress of works including widening, metalling, and restoration of the second tube of NH-44.
He also apprised him of the current single-lane traffic arrangements in place to manage vehicular movement.
The Chief Minister directed the NHAI authorities to expedite the restoration process to ease the movement of commuters and the general public. He instructed the executing agencies to mobilize additional men and machinery to ensure timely completion, underlining that safe and smooth road connectivity is the top priority of the Government.
Later, the Chief Minister interacted with local residents at Thard, patiently listening to their grievances.
He assured them that the Government is making every possible effort to fully restore NH-44 at the earliest and provide necessary relief to both commuters and the public.
