 Early Times Report
Udhampur/Ramban, Sept 3: The strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), lifeline of the Kashmir Valley, lies buried under tonnes of mud and debris after a devastating landslide struck Tharad in Udhampur district and multiple stretches including Shalgadi, Nachlana, Seri, and Ramoo in Ramban district. The catastrophe, triggered by relentless rains, has once again cut off the Valley from the rest of the country.
According to locals, a massive portion of the mountain collapsed at Tharad, sweeping away everything in its path. Eyewitnesses confirmed that 20 to 30 houses perched on the hillside were either flattened or rendered uninhabitable. However, timely evacuation efforts by the district administration ensured that families were shifted to safer shelters before disaster struck.
“This landslide is unlike anything we have seen before. The mountain has come down like a wall of death, erasing every trace of the highway. Restoration will be a daunting task and may take weeks,” said a resident, staring at the devastation.
Traffic police have sounded an advisory urging thousands of stranded vehicles to move to designated safe zones. Emergency services and heavy machinery have been pressed into action, but continuous rainfall and unstable slopes have slowed clearance operations.
Ironically, just days earlier, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had reviewed restoration works at Tharad and Ramban after earlier landslides, with the highway briefly reopened. But torrential rains on Tuesday triggered fresh slides, and last night’s collapse has left the arterial road in shambles.
Officials admit that the present challenge is far greater than previous blockades. “The scale of damage is unprecedented. Soil is loose, boulders continue to tumble, and safety of workers is a major concern. The priority is to protect lives before full-scale road restoration,” a senior official in Ramban said.
With the highway blocked at multiple points, movement of essential supplies to the Valley is likely to be disrupted. Authorities have appealed for patience from commuters and residents, assuring that every effort is being made to restore the vital link under extremely testing conditions.
The latest collapse underscores the fragile nature of NH-44, where recurring landslides continue to pose a grave threat to lives, livelihoods, and connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. |
