Doda, Kishtwar shiver at -3°C

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 28

Life has become difficult in the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar where the night temperature has dipped to -3°C and residents are feeling hardships in every sphere.

The snowbound areas are crying for help in getting ration, medicines, fuel and other items whereas commuting has become tough in the entire region.

Frost is accumulating on macadamised roads during night which is creating problems for vehicles moving early in the morning and during the night. The absence of crash barriers, railings and other protective gears on the road has increased the chances of accidents.

The recent incident of a bus hanging on the edge of the road on December 24 in the Garsu area of Doda district on the Batote-Kishtwar national highway was because of the frost accumulated on the road due to sub-zero temperature.

The situation is worse on link roads in the upper reaches where the temperature dips more.

“The situation is getting tougher this winter as the temperature has gone down drastically. There is not much difference in the day and night temperature. Due to poor visibility, we have to move cautiously even during the day,” said Abdul Latief, a resident of the Dali-Udyanpur belt of Doda district.

Around seven lakh people live in these two hilly districts of the state who have to bear extreme wintry conditions without much support from the administration.

To address the commuting issue on roads, Doda Deputy Commissioner Anshul Garg on Friday held a meeting of officials of the public works department, traffic police and National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, and asked them to identify areas on the Batote-Kishtwar highway which needed immediate attention.

“The DC was apprised of nine such spots from Pul Doda to Thathri, which need to be immediately taken care of. He directed the corporation and PWD authorities to finish work within two days,” Zohaib Patigaroo, Deputy SP (Traffic), Doda, told The Tribune.