Sgr-Jmu NH partially restored for traffic

Ramban, Feb 22: Srinagar Jammu National Highway (NH 44) was partially restored for stranded traffic after the concerned road maintenance agency NHAI prepared a single road stretch at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria, Ramsu, Hingni and Kishtwari Pathar between Nashri and Banihal in Ramban district Thursday afternoon.

Officials said, “Though the traffic remained disrupted on the fourth consecutive day today on National Highway 44 yet by evening it was partially restored. The highway opened at around 4 pm but only for stranded vehicles between Udhampur to Qazigund.”

“The National Highway 44 was partially restored after NHAI prepared single-lane road stretches at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria, Hingni, Ramsu and Kishtwari Pathar area between Nashri and Banihal,” traffic authorities said.

They said, “Earlier, National Highway was also partially restored on Wednesday afternoon but it remained open for a brief period only. It was closed after a fresh landslide blocked the road at Hingni and Kishtwari Pathar area between Ramban and Banihal.”

NHAI officials said, “This morning around one dozen machines were pressed into service at Hingni, Ramsu and Kishtwari Pathar and a single-lane road was prepared at both places by Thursday afternoon.”

“Only stranded vehicles are being cleared. No fresh traffic has been allowed from Jammu. It will not be allowed till the stretch from Nashri to Banihal is restored completely,” they said. The officials, however, hoped the highway would be restored fully by Friday morning.

Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police National Highway Ramban Rohit Baskotra, who was monitoring road restoration works at Hingni-Ramsu late Thursday evening, said, “National Highway 44 was partially restored after the NHAI cleared the landslides at Dalwass, Mehar, Hingni, Gangroo and Kishtwari Pathar.”

He said that road stretches at Dalwass, Mehar, Hingni, Gangroo and Kishtwari Pathar were still single-lane. “Stranded vehicles are being cleared on priority,” he added.

National Highway 44, passing through the Ramban district, suffered extensive damages due to heavy rains that caused landslides, mudslides and shooting stones at several places between Nashri and Banihal on Monday and Tuesday.