Landslides hit 2 buses in Doda, NH closed

Doda, February 7

A number of passengers aboard two buses had a miraculous escape when the two vehicles were hit by landslides while passing through the Assar and Raggi Nullah areas of the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar national highway on Thursday.

“A bus was hit by landslides in Assar. Its windshield was completely damaged resulting in minor injuries to the driver and a passenger. The landslides hit another bus in the Raggi Nullah area but no one was hurt. Both buses were going to Doda from Jammu,” Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Doda and Kishtwar, Zohaib Patigaroo said.

Due to heavy snowfall and landslides, the administration had closed the 110-km Batote-Kishtwar highway for all kinds of vehicular movement, he added. “We are not allowing any movement of vehicles on the highway due to landslides since early morning followed by heavy snowfall.”

Snowfall has put life out of gear in the Chenab region in the past 12 hours due to closure of link roads and snapping of power supply in many areas. Four mud houses were reportedly damaged in the district but no one was injured.

Doda DC Anshul Garg said, “Heavy snowfall in different parts of the district forced us to close the national highway. The power supply is also disturbed due to a technical snag in the 33-KV line of Bhaderwah, Thathri and Gandoh. We are trying to restore the supply. Three temporary structures were also damaged in the Gandoh, Bhalla and Kahra areas. We are preparing the estimate of the damage so that relief can be provided accordingly.” —OC