15 days on, BRO restores road link to Chositi village in Kishtwar

The 118 Road Construction Company (RCC) of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has successfully restored the critical Gulabgarh-Chositi road in Kishtwar, which was reopened for traffic on Tuesday.

The vital link was severed following catastrophic torrential rains and subsequent landslides on August 26 and 27, cutting off numerous remote villages in the Jammu Division. Over 65 people also died at the Chositi village in a flashflood on August 14 in the area.

The BRO team led by Maj Jivitesh Razora worked in treacherous and unforgiving conditions, and launched a relentless restoration effort from the Chositi side. For 13 days, men and machinery of 118 RCC worked round-the-clock, battling unstable hillsides and mountains of debris. They cleared a formidable 14-kilometer stretch, bearing the major brunt of the calamity.

The damage, caused by one of the heaviest downpours in recent memory, had rendered the road completely impassable, creating a crisis for local communities who depend on it for daily supplies, medical emergencies and essential travel.

An official spokesperson said that the operation was a textbook example of inter-agency coordination. While the 118 RCC tackled the more extensive damage from Chositi, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) initiated clearance from the Gulabgarh end, opening a 7-kilometer stretch. The combined effort of the two agencies ensured that the entire 21-kilometer blocked route was made motorable in record time.

“The challenge was immense,” said an on-site BRO official. He added “The initial days were fraught with danger due to the risk of further landslides. But our mission is to keep the lifelines of the nation open, and the team of 118 RCC was motivated by the plight of the stranded villagers. Their dedication is unwavering.”