Mehbooba wrote on X, “Fruit growers have been facing severe financial losses every year due to the closure of NH 44. Unfortunately this year the road has once again been closed leaving hundreds of fruit laden vehicles stranded resulting in inevitable losses”.
File Photo: IANS
As the vital Jammu-Srinagar highway has remained closed for the past one week, causing severe losses to fruit growers, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday appealed to the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to introduce a cargo train to carry Kashmir’s fruit to New Delhi and other markets.
Mehbooba wrote on X, “Fruit growers have been facing severe financial losses every year due to the closure of NH 44. Unfortunately this year the road has once again been closed leaving hundreds of fruit laden vehicles stranded resulting in inevitable losses”.
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“I appeal to the Union Railway minister @AshwiniVaishnaw to introduce a dedicated train service between the valley and Delhi to mitigate the challenges faced by the growers. Such a measure would bring much-needed relief to everyone involved in the trade”, she added.
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Meanwhile, the highway suffered further damage today due to the torrential rain that had been continuing since morning.
Troops of the White Knight Corps of the Indian Army are constructing a Bailey Bridge at Doda’s Jangalwar Nallah to restore road connectivity that was damaged due to flash floods.
The White Knight Corps said that “Devastating floods in the Jammu region have submerged vast areas, sweeping away homes, bridges & fields. NH-244, the lifeline to Doda & Kishtwar, was washed away near Thatri, crippling mobility and cutting off villages. Engineer Troops of the White Knight Corps are currently carrying out mobilisation of bridging stores and laying of a Bailey Bridge at Doda’s Jangalwar Nallah, aiming to restore partial connectivity at the earliest”.
“Despite challenges of weather and terrain, the bridge construction has commenced in full swing by White Knight Corps Engineers in close coordination with Civil Administration. Area protection by troops of White Knight Corps and traffic control by J&K Police are ensuring smooth progress of restoration efforts”.
Deputy Commissioner Doda, Harvinder Singh, chaired a meeting to review damages caused by recent heavy rainfall and to plan immediate relief measures for affected families.
The DC ordered that accurate damage data and photographic proof should be submitted by Tehsildars for timely relief distribution. They should conduct on-ground verification of partially, severely, and fully damaged houses.
Closure of sensitive roads, especially Paddri Road, to ensure public safety. District teams have been deputed for immediate field inspection and preparation of relief proposals, he said.
BSF organised a medical camp in the Suchetgarh border area of Jammu. The camp was held under the supervision of DIG (Medical), Frontier Headquarters BSF Jammu.
Doctors from BSF, along with medical professionals from NTPHC Suchetgarh and NTPHC R.S. Pura provided consultation and check-up to residents of the flood affected border villages of Nai Basti, Gulabgarh, Suchetgarh, Abdal, and Kushalpur.
In view of the recent floods and continuous rainfall in the region, the camp played a crucial role in delivering timely medical care. Medicines were distributed to the needy, ensuring immediate health support to the affected population.
In view of the continuing rainfall and severe weather alert of cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides, the authorities have ordered that all education institutions across the Jammu division shall continue to remain shut on Wednesday.
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