SRINAGAR, Sep 17: The Srinagar-Jammu national highway was thrown open for heavy vehicles on Wednesday after three weeks, clearing the way for hundreds of fruit-laden trucks to proceed towards their destinations across the country.
Fruit-laden trucks from Kashmir were stranded for days due to the closure of the crucial highway following heavy rains and flash floods.
The 270 km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH44) was reopened last week, but only for light motor vehicles.
“Our aim is to clear maximum number of stranded vehicles which are loaded with fruits,” Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic-rural) Ravindra Singh told reporters.
He said all the stranded vehicles along the highway and those waiting at the fruit mandis will be cleared on priority basis.
He said the drivers should follow the traffic advisory with regard to movement of heavy vehicles and avoid overtaking along the highway.
“Traffic violations can lead to accidents which can in turn lead to road blockade,” he added.
The highway suffered heavy damages due to incessant rains and flashfloods last month, leading to closure of the arterial road.
The highway was closed for heavy vehicles, giving rise to fear among fruit growers that the crop this year might not reach the terminal markets of the country.
The authorities have used Mughal Road to take out fruit from the valley but the terrain of the road is not feasible for operating heavy vehicles.
Rainfall caused extensive damage to J&K: CM
Says in touch with Centre, expecting comprehensive package
Poonch, Sept 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the recent rainfall has caused extensive damage to Jammu & Kashmir. He added that the government is in touch with the centre and is expecting a comprehensive package for the region.
Talking to reporters after visiting multiple places, including Kalaban, Poonch and Udhampur National Highway, Omar, said that at the land sinking spot, the people who were living there and got affected cannot be resettled at the place.
The CM, however, said that a government scheme already exists for people who have no land and are being provided 5 marlas to construct the houses. “We have directed the administration to come up with a proposal in this regard and send it for cabinet approval,” he added.
“It is our responsibility to stand firmly with the people in these hard times. Jammu and Kashmir faced extensive damage due to the landslides and floods triggered by the rainfall. There is hardly any place in J&K which has not been affected during the recent rainfall,” he said.
Omar said the government will use its financial power to support the affected. “We are also in touch with the Centre, which recently deputed a team to different parts of J&K to assess the damage. We will put forth our demand and expect a comprehensive package for J&K like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand,” he said.
The Chief Minister visited Kalaban, Poonch, to oversee the damage caused by land subsidence in the area. He assured full support to the affected families and sanctioned immediate relief of Rs 38 lakh to these families in addition to Rs 50 lakh sanctioned under SDRF. He was accompanied by Minister Javed Rana during the visit.
Omar interacted with the affected families and listened to their concerns. He assured them that the government stands firmly with them in this difficult time and that all possible support will be extended to ensure their rehabilitation.
The CM also visited Udhampur to inspect the ongoing restoration work on Jammu–Srinagar NH-44. He directed the concerned authorities to expedite the work and ensure smooth movement of traffic, particularly for fruit trucks and essential supplies.
During his on-spot assessment of the restoration work on NH-44, the Chief Minister directed the concerned officials to expedite the process, noting that the prolonged closure is severely impacting the supply of essentials, including fresh fruit.
This marked the Chief Minister’s second visit to the affected site and came a day after he, along with the Union Minister for Roads, Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, reviewed the progress of restoration efforts.
