The present critical situation of National Highway 44 due to incessant rains followed by flash floods in the Ramban District leading to major damages on various spots has cut off the Valley from rest of the world. This is not the first time that the arterial road connecting Kashmir with Jammu and other parts of the country has been blocked as it is a common scene especially during the rainy and snowy conditions.
Reportedly, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has termed the situation as really bad and assured adequate compensation to the affected lot. He has said that efforts are being made to restore the highway immediately, along with the affected residential areas to ensure that relief reaches as soon as possible. As experts have asserted that it will take days to restore the strategic highway which is used extensively to ferry essentials to Valley, chances are there that Kashmir might face dearth of certain commodities necessary to sustain living. Although administration has assured that there is no shortage of ration and other items including fuel, the situation may turn grave in case delay in restoration work gets prolonged.
Considering the reports, one can say that Mughal Road being open for traffic, is playing a vital role as a viable alternative but repeated closures of NH 44, the significant road link between the country and Kashmir, it has become imperative that the concerned ministry at the centre should ponder over constructing another all weather highway in J&K with better edifice comprising more tunnels and bridges to ensure all season connectivity as India today has the expertise and resources to make this happen in shortest possible time.
The way the lives of people living in Ramban and for that matter those dwelling in different parts of the Valley have been affected due to disruption in traffic on NH 44, one can say that alternative highways can only bail out people from such hardships, which are expected on number of occasions due to vagaries of weather and incessant climatic conditions, a common phenomenon witnessed on this highway since ages.
