300m key road stretch caves in amid heavy rainfall in Ramban, restoration underway
Jammu, Jul 26 (PTI) The recent heavy rainfall has resulted in a nearly 300-metre stretch of the Ramban-Gool road suffering a major subsidence, severing crucial road connectivity between dozens of villages and the Ramban district headquarters, officials said on Sunday.
Another massive landslide has partially blocked the flow of a river in Ramsoo tehsil of the district, posing a serious threat to a village downstream, they said.
Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alyas Khan on Sunday inspected restoration work at the Ramban-Gool road stretch that caved in at Pernote village during a landslide following heavy rains a day ago.
During the visit, Khan inspected the restoration works being undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation. He was informed that repairs are underway on a war footing, with the deployment of adequate manpower and heavy machinery to clear debris and restore the damaged road stretch, an official spokesperson said.
The deputy commissioner directed the executing agency to accelerate the road restoration work to ensure early restoration of traffic on the affected stretch, the spokesperson said.
Emphasising public safety, he appealed to the residents and commuters to avoid visiting or moving closer to the subsidence-affected area, as the ground remains unstable and vulnerable to further sliding.
He urged the public to cooperate with the agencies engaged in the restoration operations.
The district administration, in coordination with the Border Roads Organisation and other line departments, is closely monitoring the situation, the spokesperson said.
Senior National Conference leader and Banihal MLA Sajad Shaheen said the closure of the vital Gool-Ramban road has left thousands of passengers, students, employees, patients and families stranded.
He urged the Northern Railway to immediately restore the special Katra-Banihal rail service, which was discontinued a few months ago.
“The resumption of this train service will serve as a vital lifeline for people and provide much-needed relief until road connectivity is restored,” he said.
The legislator said a massive landslide has partially blocked the flow of the Bishlari river near Kralna-Sarbagni village in Ramsoo tehsil, creating a temporary lake and posing a serious threat to the entire Kralna village.
“The situation demands immediate attention before it escalates into a major disaster. I urge the Ramban district administration, the State Disaster Response Force, disaster management authorities and all departments concerned to expedite rehabilitation and mitigation measures on a war footing to safeguard lives and properties, and ensure safety of the affected residents,” he said on X.
