Latti, Dudu Basantgarh awaits road restoration

Jammu, Sep 6: Hectic efforts Saturday remained underway to restore connectivity to Latti, Dudu Basantgarh areas of Udhampur district, where heavy rains hampered road restoration works at Thard near Bali nullah, thus leading to continuous closure of National Highway 44.

The Latti area in Dudu subdivision on September 3 witnessed a massive landslide incident, damaging a school building and a crucial bridge connecting the area to Chenani and Basantgarh, besides several other structures. Villagers also lost their livestock. The only consolation was that there was no loss of human lives.

The area remains totally disconnected, and the air route is the only way out to reach these peripheral areas of the Udhampur district.

However, the concerned MP and the Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, stated that the work was going in full swing to restore connectivity.

“Road restoration in the district is progressing fast. Out of 400 damaged roads, over 50 percent are already restored, and many more will reopen soon. Restoration work of the National Highway is going on a war footing despite constant rain and adverse weather conditions. It is expected to be operational soon…may be one or two days depending on how favourable the weather remains to ensure speedy work,” Singh shared through a social media post.

He said, “Work on restoring road connectivity, at the earliest, to peripheral areas like Gordi, Latti, Dudu, and Basantgarh is going on. Water supply is yet to be fully restored in certain areas of Ramnagar, Moungri, Latti, and Basantgarh. However, alternative arrangements are being made through water tankers.”

With regard to the restoration of connectivity in Kishtwar, he said that roads NH 244 from Thathri to Kishtwar were open, bypassing the slide area.

“From Kishtwar-Chatroo-Sinthan Top, it will be opened today as blasting was done yesterday to remove heavy rocks and boulders that blocked the road,” Singh said.

In a separate incident, the Indian Air Force (IAF), in collaboration with the Udhampur district administration, airlifted two critical patients identified as Shiv Lal, a resident of Sira, and Diwan Chand, a resident of Latti, from landslide landslide-affected Latti-Marothi area, which is totally disconnected, leaving air evacuation only option.

In the neighbouring district of Reasi, the Vaishnodevi pilgrimage in Katra continued to remain suspended for the 12th consecutive day on Saturday. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) officials have stated that the decision to resume the yatra will be taken at the appropriate time to ensure the safety of pilgrims following improvement in weather conditions.

Shuttle train service between Katra and Jammu also remained cancelled.

The weather advisory for the Jammu division has predicted the prevalence of inclement weather conditions, including the possibility of landslides, shooting stones at a few vulnerable places in some districts till September 12.

Meanwhile, in the winter capital, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Commissioner Devansh Yadav issued an elaborate health advisory to prevent the outbreak of any water-borne and vector-borne diseases.

Amid persisting acute water scarcity in some parts of Jammu city and its outskirts, the District Magistrate Jammu Saturday, withdrew his earlier order issued under Section 163 BNSS, 2023, vis-à-vis regulation and requisitioning of private water tankers in Jammu district. The order issued pertained to requisitioning all private tankers and placing them under the control of the Jal Shakti (PHE) department.