Vehicles stuck at NH-44 for second day due to landslides
RK Kichlu
Ramban, February 3
Hundreds of passengers were stranded between Batote and Ramban on NH44 since yesterday morning following landslides at Mehad, 4 km short of Ramban town, and at Digdol.
After partial clearance of the road at Mehad, which was blocked since 9 am yesterday, there was another landslide at Digdol around 7 pm which blocked the NH44, thereby aggravating the agony of the stranded passengers.
After the Mehad landslide, the Traffic Police had allowed light motor vehicles to bypass the blocked spot by passing through the old wooden bailey bridge on the NHW old alignment.
Although there was a scheduled one-way traffic from Jammu to Srinagar, a big traffic snarl was caused between Batote and Jaiswal bridge in Ramban because of some unruly drivers which led to passengers, including children, patients in ambulances, students and employees, remaining stuck there till late night.
The police had a tough time regulating the traffic in Ramban.
