Highway to Despair

It looked like a doomsday in Ramban area of Jammu on April 20. Sky roared and the mountains melted!
Heavy rains caused by cloudbursts triggered massive landslides and flash floods burying a large stretch of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. 3 people were killed and several cars including trucks were buried under the debris.

Ramban, which used to bustle with vehicular movement, turned into a ghost town. Besides, several houses were damaged in Ramban’s villages with Marog being the worst–hit. Massive landslides at Kela Morh area of Ramban led to closure of the 270-km Srinagar-Jammu National Highway known as NH-44. The highway is considered to be the lifeline of Kashmir as it is the main surface link to the valley.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rushed to Ramban the next day. Omar trekked several kilometers on foot on debris of the landslides to reach Kela Morh. Seeing the large-scale devastation, Omar assured rehabilitation of the affected families and also directed for expediting restoration work on the highway to resume vehicular movement.

After hectic efforts, the highway was restored for one way traffic on April 26. The frequent closure of the highway causes shortage of essentials in Kashmir besides inconvenience to travelers including students and patients.

The question is why the highway witnesses frequent landslides especially from the last several years? Is it due to natural or man-made causes? Undoubtedly there has been a massive increase in traffic flow on the highway. Besides construction activities have increased manifold in the eco-fragile areas along the highway.

The highway passes through Outer Himalaya to Higher Himalayan range making it landslide prone. The closure, besides causing economic losses, has been devouring precious human lives. The rainfall turned the highway into a death trap! The highway has become unpredictable as the mountains can crumble anytime.Dogra rulers understood the fragility of the highway and permitted only horse carts on the highway. From a cart road before 1947, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has come a long way to become a two-way road. In the process, many mountains were cut, drilled and blasted to construct vehicular roads. In simple terms, this disturbed geology and hydrology of the mountains. Development of the highway came at a heavy ecological cost?

As per studies flash floods in Himalayas caused by landslides have now become a frequent phenomenon. Himalaya may experience even more frequent extreme rainfall events resulting in flooding and landslide hazards.

Continuous excavation of slopes for road widening is one of the major causes of landslides. Several rocks in Ramban mountains are susceptible to weathering and landslides. There have been several incidents of land sinking in Ramban and its adjoining areas.

Geomorphology of Banihal-Ramban stretch is considered to be most erosion prone of the highway. This is mainly due to the presence of weathered rock mass on slopes, loose rock blocks, landslide and rock slide debris deposits. After downpour the loose material gets saturated, triggering landslides.

Experts mince no words to blame haphazard construction activities for landslides. Elaborating experts say that the stability of the region geologically is very fragile. There is no data to suggest tests showing nature, substrata, ground water sampling, Sieve and hydrometer analysis, cone penetration tests, soil electrical resistivity test is undertaken before taking up construction activities in the eco-fragile area.

At no cost can we afford to disturb loose or compact rock bodies. Scientific studies and Environmental Impact Assessment is must before starting any construction activity. Set norms for slope cutting and dumping of muck have to be followed. We cannot go on cutting the mountains. We have to understand the complex geographical, geomorphic, and geological settings of mountains.

Landslide Susceptibility Mapping must be undertaken on the highway to identify locations at high risk of landslides and develop strategies to reduce damages. There is a need for an action plan to prevent landslides. We need to undertake massive plantations of mountains to prevent soil erosion.

Last year, the National Landslide Forecasting Centre was inaugurated at GSI, Kolkata. The aim of the centre is to generate and disseminate daily landslide forecasts for multiple states for prompt landslide risk assessment. However, the centre must widen its ambit to Jammu and Kashmir which is prone to landslides.

Besides, to reduce burden on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the government must upgrade other routes including Mughal Road, Dessa-Kapran and Sinthan Top. The much-anticipated Doda-Dessa-Kapran-Verinag road project remains stalled due to lack of coordination between different departments.

Inaugurated in 2009, the 84- km Mughal Road connecting Kashmir with Poonch district of Jammu can serve as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu Highway. Mughal Road is oldest route of J&K having historical significance, however it has been marred by closures due to heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions. Mughal Road is less prone to landslides and can become an all weather road and remain open round the year if a tunnel is constructed. There is a proposal to construct a 7-km tunnel between Zaznar and Chathapani. The stretch is the only area prone to landslides on the Mughal Road. The tunnel can see the light of the day as the authorities have stated that the work on it will be started soon.

It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure hassle free road connectivity. Let the government rope in global experts to review the condition of Srinagar Jammu National Highway and recommend measures to prevent landslides. The highway has assumed the significance of being a jugular vein for people of Kashmir. Government must ensure to keep his artery open.

Author is Executive Editor,

Greater Kashmir