Union Minister Confirms Partial Restoration of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway Tomorrow
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh announced that the Jammu-Srinagar national highway is set for partial restoration tomorrow amid ongoing relief efforts for families affected by flash floods in Ramban district. Authorities continue to respond to the disaster while ensuring support for stranded passengers.
Key Takeaways
- Partial restoration of Jammu-Srinagar highway expected.
- Relief operations are actively ongoing in Ramban.
- Electricity and water supply restoration is progressing.
- Extensive damage reported due to flash floods.
- Authorities are providing aid to stranded passengers.
Jammu, April 22 (NationPress) Union Minister and Lok Sabha representative for Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Jitendra Singh, announced on Tuesday that the Jammu-Srinagar national highway is expected to be partially restored by Wednesday. Relief efforts for the families affected by flash floods in Ramban district are actively underway.
Dr Jitendra Singh shared on X, “Relief operations are ongoing. The administration is doing everything possible despite challenging conditions. District Commissioner Mr Baseer Choudhary is on-site in the impacted region. Electricity restoration is in progress, with 1486 out of 1762 Distribution Transformers (DTs) back online and work continuing on the remaining 286 DTs. Regarding water supply, 89 out of 98 Water Supply Schemes (WSS) are operational, with restoration efforts ongoing for the remaining 9 schemes.”
He further mentioned that the national highway is likely to see partial restoration by Wednesday. “I will be present at the district headquarters in Ramban tomorrow to coordinate further measures with the administration,” he stated.
The Srinagar-Jammu national highway has been closed for the third consecutive day due to significant landslides. Engineers from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) reported that the highway is damaged at 22 points, and restoration work is proceeding vigorously.
Landslides caused by flash floods resulted in three fatalities on Sunday in Ramban district, while over 100 individuals were rescued. Approximately 4 to 5 kilometers of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was completely washed away, burying numerous vehicles beneath the debris.
Hundreds of travelers remain stranded on the highway, prompting authorities to provide shelter and food to those affected.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, despite adverse weather conditions, visited Kali Morh on the highway on Monday to supervise the relief operations and assess the damage.
He noted that the damage is extensive, but since the disaster occurred at a local level, it cannot be classified as a ‘national disaster’.
The Chief Minister assured that all possible relief and assistance would be extended to the families impacted.
Former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has urged the Central Government to intervene and provide aid for the affected families.
In the meantime, V.K. Bidhuri, the divisional commissioner of Kashmir, has once again urged residents in the Valley to avoid panic buying, emphasizing that there are ample stocks of food and petroleum products to last for two weeks. Reports indicate that people have been overcrowding filling stations across the Valley to purchase fuel well beyond their daily needs.
