Jammu, Jul 28: Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma, accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Gulam Ali Khatana, called on Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers J P Nadda in New Delhi and held detailed discussions on strengthening healthcare infrastructure and streamlining fertiliser supply in the Union Territory.

Sat Sharma thanked the Union Minister for the National Medical Commission’s approval of 50 additional MBBS seats for Government Medical College, Jammu, besides a similar increase for Government Medical College, Srinagar. He said the decision reflected the Modi government’s unwavering commitment to expanding quality medical education and healthcare facilities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sat Sharma said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the health sector in J&K witnessed unprecedented transformation through the establishment of AIIMS Jammu, AIIMS Kashmir, new medical colleges, increased MBBS seats, upgraded hospitals and improved healthcare infrastructure. However, he asserted that the aspirations of the people demanded that this momentum be accelerated.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly those living in remote and border areas, should never be compelled to travel outside the Union Territory for quality treatment. Healthcare is not a privilege but a fundamental necessity and I will continue to raise every issue concerning the health of our people at every appropriate forum,” Sat Sharma said. The J&K BJP president appreciated the excellent services being provided by AIIMS Jammu, stating that it rapidly emerged as a premier institution delivering advanced healthcare to thousands of patients from Jammu and Kashmir and neighbouring regions. He urged J P Nadda to expedite the complete operationalisation of AIIMS Kashmir while further strengthening AIIMS Jammu with additional super-specialty facilities, advanced diagnostic services, specialist doctors and research infrastructure so that both institutions could evolve into centres of medical excellence. Rajya Sabha MP Gulam Ali Khatana raised concerns regarding fertiliser transportation and distribution in Jammu and Kashmir. He pointed out that while freight trains reached Pampore and Anantnag, fertilisers were still unloaded at Udhampur, resulting in higher transportation costs and frequent supply disruptions due to highway closures. He urged that fertilisers should be transported directly to Kashmir by rail.

Khatana also sought an end to monopolistic practices in fertiliser distribution, alleging that companies such as NFL, IFFCO, IPL and Chambal Fertilizers often compelled farmers to purchase tagged agricultural products along with essential fertilisers like Urea, DAP and MOP. He requested wider participation of agencies such as CRIFCO and HRUL to promote fair competition and ensure affordable fertiliser availability for farmers. Responding positively, Union Minister J P Nadda appreciated both Members of Parliament for consistently highlighting public issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir. He assured them that the Government of India was committed to further strengthening healthcare infrastructure and improving public welfare in the Union Territory, adding that the issues relating to AIIMS Kashmir, healthcare expansion and fertiliser transportation and distribution would be examined on priority.

Ramban, Jul 28: Free flow of traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained disrupted on Tuesday due to a fresh spell of monsoon rain, slush, and an uneven road surface at the landslide-affected Dewal area between Chenani and Udhampur.

Traffic authorities said the highway remained partially open only for stranded vehicles, with traffic being regulated through the affected stretch.

Hundreds of Light Motor Vehicles (LMV) and heavy vehicles were allowed to cross the vulnerable section in a controlled manner as restoration work continued.

The disruption follows a massive landslide that struck the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway near Dewal Bridge on Monday morning, blocking the carriageway for several hours and leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway.

Although traffic was partially restored on Monday afternoon, road clearance and stabilisation work are still underway.

According to official sources, another major landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, occurred at Ladha near Samroli in the Udhampur-Chenani section at around 11:00 pm on July 26, completely blocking the operational two-lane highway.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) immediately mobilised men and machinery and cleared the debris by around 3 am, restoring single-lane traffic.

Officials said single-lane movement continued initially due to the heavy volume of stranded vehicles.

On the morning of July 27, the AmarnathYatra convoy was safely escorted through the affected stretch while restoration work to restore full-width carriageway continued simultaneously.

Within six hours, two-lane traffic movement was restored.

However, owing to the heavy volume of traffic and the uneven road surface at Dewal, vehicle operators continued to face difficulties while negotiating the affected stretch.

Officials said intermittent monsoon rainfall has kept the road surface wet and vulnerable, necessitating continuous maintenance.

NHAI personnel are regularly filling damaged patches with stones and boulders to facilitate safer passage and ensure smooth traffic movement.

In view of the Meteorological Department’s forecast of continued rainfall over the next few days, authorities have urged the public to undertake journeys on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway only after confirming the latest road status from the Traffic Control Units (TCUs) at Jammu, Ramban, and Srinagar.

Commuters have also been advised to follow updates issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police through its official X handle, Facebook page, and Traffic Control Units, and to avoid travelling on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway until the road is declared fully safe for unrestricted traffic.

Authorities also appealed to the public not to pay heed to rumours and to rely only on verified official information.