Batote-Kishtwar highway a death trap

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Doda, April 20

The 110-km Batote-Kishtwar national highway is turning into a death trap.

The recent torrential rain has led to vast damage in the Chenab basin and landslides have occurred at most stretches of the Batote-Kishtwar highway. At a few places, falling of stones are threatening the lives of people travelling on the highway. No one knows when a landslide will occur and they will have to spend hours and even days without food and other items.

“While travelling from Jammu to Doda near Kora Pani in the Assar area, my mother, cousin and I had to spend a night in a vehicle in wintry conditions. A landslide had blocked the road near Raggi, which prevented us from moving. When we tried to go back and reach a safer place, the condition of the road did not permit it,” said Imran Jahangir of Doda.

Hundreds of vehicles ply everyday on the highway. It takes more than three hours for these vehicles to cover the 50-km stretch of road from Batote to Doda on a normal day, which otherwise used to take an hour-and-a-half. At many places, the sinking of the area has also damaged the road and the PWD, which takes care of the maintenance of the highway, is only able to open it for one-way traffic.

“While moving on this highway, we remain under a constant threat of falling stones and landslides. We do not know when a stone will fall on us. It is like a death trap and we often go through it,” said Muhammad Umar, a businessman of Bhaderwah, who often moves on this highway.

The highway is the only road link for districts of Doda and Kishtwar. Whenever it gets closed, movement of people as well as vehicles carrying essential commodities get stopped. At the time of any emergency, the district administration has to call the Air Force for help as there is no other alternative to reach Jammu or Srinagar.

“This highway was in a better condition till a few years back, but successive governments adopted a stepmotherly attitude towards the area. Nobody takes care of our sufferings,” said Jagdish Kumar, a taxi driver.