Cut-off for two weeks, BRO restores connectivity to several Kishtwar villages

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has restored the critical Gulabgarh-Chashoti road in the Kishtwar region of Jammu and Kashmir that was washed away in torrential rains and subsequent landslides in August, cutting off numerous remote villages in the Jammu division for almost two weeks.

BRO’s 118 Road Construction Company (RCC), led by Maj Jivitesh Razora, launched a restoration effort from the Chashoti side of the route, which is to the north of Gulabgarh. Working round-the-clock for 13 days in treacherous and unforgiving conditions, battling unstable hillsides and mountains of debris, BRO personnel cleared a 14-km road stretch.

The damage had rendered the road completely impassable, creating a crisis for local communities who depend on it for daily supplies, medical emergencies and essential travel.

While the 118 RCC tackled the more extensive damage from Chashoti, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) initiated clearance from the Gulabgarh end, opening a 7-km stretch. The combined effort of the two agencies ensured that the entire 21-km damaged route was made motorable in record time.

According to BRO officials, the challenge was immense and the initial days were fraught with danger due to the risk of further landslides. The BRO had come as life saviours for the local residents who had been completely cut off for almost two weeks.

“The swift and efficient operation by the 118 RCC not only highlights the strategic importance of the Border Roads Organisation in maintaining connectivity in India's most challenging terrains, but also reaffirms their role as a force for national integration and a critical support system for civilian populations in times of natural calamity,” a BRO officer said.