Jammu, Sep 04: A landslide hit temporary sheds at the Ratle power project in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, prompting the administration to act swiftly and rescue five persons on Thursday, officials said.

The incident took place in the Dhrabshala area when a landslide hit the tin sheds meant for washrooms at the Ratle power project, they said.

Five people, who were trapped inside, were rescued, and three of them have been admitted to GMC Hospital in Doda, they said.

Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Sharma, who monitored the operation, told PTI they are all safe.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh posted on X that he has spoken to DC Kishtwar Pankaj Sharma in connection with the incident.

“Must appreciate the district administration for taking prompt action and rescuing around five persons who could have otherwise been fatal victims of the landslide at the Rattle power project in Dhrabshala area,” Singh said.

The rescued persons are injured but safe and are being given the necessary medical treatment, in addition to every other required assistance, he added.

Jammu, Sep 04: The Jammu-Katra shuttle train service, which was started to facilitate the movement of locals and stranded passengers, was suspended for the second day on Thursday in the wake of floods and landslides.

Heavy rains triggered landslides blocking the portal of tunnel number 16 on the rail track between Ramnagar and Manwal in the Jammu-Udhampur section.

“Due to heavy rainfall and landslides, railways have decided to cancel the shuttle train service (between Jammu and Katra) today,” Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay said.

The shuttle services, with the induction of four trains between Katra and Jammu, had started on September 1, and were scheduled to run till September 15.

Rail traffic has remained suspended in the Jammu railway division for the past nine days due to misalignment and breaches at multiple locations in the Pathankot-Jammu section following heavy rains and flash floods on August 26.

However, railways has been running special trains to ferry stranded passengers from Jammu to their destinations over the past four days.

A total of 5,784 stranded passengers have been ferried in seven trains from Jammu for their onward journey.

Scores of people, especially pilgrims, were stranded as heavy rains lashed the Jammu region since August 26, severely disrupting rail and road traffic.

A landslide near the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra claimed 34 lives.

Srinagar, Sep 04: The Traffic Department on Thursday morning said that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Mughal Road and Sinthan Road are still shut, though efforts are on to restore connectivity.

An official from the traffic department said that Jammu-Srinagar NHW/ Mughal Road/ Sinthan road is still closed. Restoration work is going on. People are advised not to undertake journey on road till the restoration work is completed.

The department appealed to people not to travel on these roads until restoration work is completed. “People should avoid paying heed to rumours. Traffic is plying smoothly on the SSG road in line with the issued advisory,” the update said.

Travelers have been requested to confirm the latest road status through the official Twitter, Facebook and TCU helplines of the J&K Traffic Police before starting their journey. (KNC)

Jammu, Sept 03: The Central government has deputed an inter-ministerial team to pay detailed on-ground visits to the flood-affected districts in the Jammu region in the next four days and assess the actual scale of losses and damage caused by recent rains.

This was revealed at a high-level meeting chaired by Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, and the inter-ministerial team head and National Disaster Management Authority of India Joint Secretary Col Kirti Pratap Singh here on Wednesday night.

The meeting was held to discuss the scale of damages caused by the recent cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides in Jammu region.

“Over the next four days, the inter-ministerial team will conduct detailed on-ground visits to the affected areas to assess the actual scale of losses and damages in the districts of Jammu division. It shall then submit a detailed report to the Government of India,” a government spokesperson said.

The Central team comprises officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Ministry of Finance.

During the meeting, a detailed PowerPoint presentation was given, explaining the scale of damages to private property, public infrastructure and loss of lives, the spokesperson said.

The Divisional Commissioner apprised the members of the Central team about the affected areas and the extent of damages caused to essential infrastructure, including roads, power supply, and water supply schemes.

He also briefed about the efforts being made to save precious lives with the assistance and support of security forces, emergency responders, National Disaster Response Force, Union Territory Disaster Response Force, Police, Army, and Central Armed Police Forces.

At the meeting, the officials also discussed the challenging situation arising due to incessant rains, flash floods, and landslides. “Discussions were held on damage to roads, power infrastructure, water supply, and the efforts being made to restore the same,” the spokesperson said.

In view of the prevailing weather conditions and the emerging flood situation in Kashmir, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo also chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review and sensitise the divisional and district administrations about preparedness and response measures.

During the meeting, Dulloo took a detailed review of the availability and functioning of essential services, including health, power and telecom across the Valley.

He stressed that uninterrupted supply of essential commodities such as food grains, cooking gas and fuel to the public must be ensured.

Emphasising the importance of preventive action, the chief secretary directed all deputy commissioners to identify vulnerable areas and initiate precautionary evacuation wherever required.

He underscored the need for the administration to remain in close contact with the public and extend timely assistance.