LG Sinha reviews restoration work on Jammu-Srinagar highway
The highway has been shut since 26 August; however, it was briefly reopened in between for a few hours through some alternate route.
The highway has been shut since 26 August; however, it was briefly reopened in between for a few hours through some alternate route.
The Chief Minister chaired a high-level meeting to review the restoration works on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) and other major roads damaged by recent heavy rains.
Hundreds of tourist cabs, buses, and loaded trucks were stranded at different places on the highway. Many vehicles were buried under boulders and debris.
More than 2000 vehicles were stranded on Jammu-Srinagar highway due to heavy snowfall on Friday. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who drove from Jammu to Srinagar, said around 2000 vehicles are stuck between the tunnel and Qazigund on the highway.
Elaborate security and safety arrangements have been made by the authorities who have deployed mobile radars, CCTVs and other sophisticated equipment for the smooth trial.
The langar associations, engaged for the past several years in providing free food to the pilgrims, are disappointed as the order of the SASB does not provide them ample time to set up the community kitchens on the two routes of the pilgrimage.
The state government announced that Wednesday's ban on the movement of civilian traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway would be lifted on 13 May, however, the restrictions on Sundays would continue.
Governor Satya Pal Malik has asked the authorities to see that inconvenience was not caused to civilians during the highway ban.
The preventive measure of earmarking Sundays and Wednesdays till 31 May has been ordered following the recent Pulwama-type attack that failed in Banihal area on the highway while a convoy of the CRPF was moving.
These restrictions have been ordered following the terror attack in Pulwama where 44 CRPF personnel were killed and a recent similar attack in Banihal that failed.
