Landslide at Digdole blocks Jammu-Srinagar highway

Our Correspondent

Jammu/Doda, November 10

The strategically crucial Jammu-Srinagar national highway was blocked due to a massive landslide at Digdol in Ramban district of Jammu province on Sunday.

The fresh landslide struck Digdole around 1:30 pm on Sunday, after which the traffic police restricted the movement of vehicles on the highway, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The 300-kilometre long Jammu-Srinagar highway was open to traffic at 3 am after remaining suspended for 13 hours due to a landslide at Mahar, two km from Ramban town.

But, fresh landslide at Digdole again blocked the highway as the authorities said it would take at least 48 hours to make the arterial road traffic worthy.

Nazim Zai Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, said, “We are trying our best to restore the highway, but shooting stones and landslides have been playing the spoilsport. Around a dozen machines have been in action and more machines have been called as multiple agencies are involved in the restoration work.”

“We have made arrangements for stranded passengers as there are 18 sheds on the highway which we also used during the Amarnath Yatra, but many passengers have returned. I also want to convey to the people that they should plan their journey after seeking full status of the highway from the traffic control room,” he added.

As per officials, around 800 light motor vehicles have been struck on the Ramban- Banihal stretch and around 2,000 trucks carrying essential commodities to the Valley in Nagrota, including hundreds of passenger vehicles.

“Though men and machinery has been pressed into service, it will at least take two days to clear the debris as fresh landslides are hampering the restoration work.” The traffic authorities at Ramban said.

Over 1,000 truckers stranded for past 5 days

• Udhampur: Due to massive landslides on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Digdol in Ramban, traffic movement remained suspended for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday. 
• Earlier, the police had diverted the traffic towards the Valley, but a landslide, which occurred near Digdol at 1 pm, halted the movement of vehicles. 
• Ramban Senior Superintendent of Police JS Johar said, “Massive landslides took place near Digdol in Ramban district. Men and machinery have been pressed into service to make the road traffic-worthy.” It would take at least 24-36 hours to clear the highway, he said. More than 1,000 truckers are stranded on the highway. Deepankar Gupta