Long traffic congestion on Old Samba-Kathua Road has been troubling numerous commuters and local residents. This situation arose after traffic from the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway was diverted due to the Tarnah bridge being damaged by flash floods yesterday. The bridge is expected to take several days or even weeks to be restored, and in the meantime, all the traffic from Jammu-Pathankot National Highway is being rerouted to Old Samba-Kathua Road, leading to significant traffic jams along the border road stretch. Unfortunately, even ambulances are getting stuck for hours in these traffic snarls, posing a challenge for the police in managing the situation.
To make matters worse, the old bridge near Tarnah, which could have served as an alternative route during emergencies, has been dismantled by the National Highway authorities for the construction of a new bridge as part of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway. Surprisingly, there has been no inquiry initiated by top officials or the UT administration to investigate the reported negligence that led to the damage of the relatively young bridge.
On a brighter note, the traffic situation has been resolved on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, and vehicles, including those of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra, are now able to move smoothly from both sides. The GREF authorities have also restored the Basohli-Bani road after it was blocked by landslides and boulders.
However, it’s important to note that the Bani-Bhaderwah road is still not cleared, and the administration is actively providing ex-gratia/relief to the families affected by the landslides and house collapse incidents in the Bani area. The Deputy Commissioner of Kathua, along with other officials, visited the affected areas to assess the situation and review relief and restoration efforts. They also interacted with the local people to understand their issues and assured them of resolving their problems.
As a result of the landslides, several unfortunate fatalities occurred, and rescue operations were carried out to recover the bodies of those who lost their lives. The administration provided financial assistance to the families of the deceased and the injured.
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