Srinagar, Aug 29: Authorities on Friday morning issued a fresh traffic advisory, confirming that the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway continues to remain closed following major damages between Jakheni and Chenani.

Officials said commuters are strictly advised not to undertake journeys on the highway until restoration work is completed and the surface is traffic-worthy. “People should not pay heed to rumors,” the advisory underlined.

Meanwhile, traffic is plying smoothly on the Mughal Road and Srinagar–Sonamarg–Gumri (SSG) Road as per earlier advisories. The Sinthan route, however, has been opened only for light motor vehicles, as per NHIDCL directions.

Authorities further appealed to commuters to maintain lane discipline, warning that overtaking could lead to traffic congestion. (KNC)

Udhampur, Aug 28: MLA Udhampur East Ranbir Singh Pathania on Thursday emphasised that the widespread devastation in J&K was not merely a natural disaster but was aggravated by unregulated and illegal mining.

He also made a fervent call to the central government to announce a special central package on the lines of the 2014 Srinagar floods to help Jammu and Kashmir recover fully.

Pathania was interacting with the people while conducting an extensive tour of flood-affected areas in his constituency, covering Rathian (near DPS), Channi More, Satteni, Sountha, Kashirah, Krowa, Kawa, Jaganoo, and Ritti.

He reviewed damages, interacted with affected families and instructed for urgent relief operations. He raised serious concerns that illegal mining was being carried out alarmingly close to water filtration plants, pumping stations, bridges, roads, and forest belts, destabilising riverbeds, triggering soil erosion, and undermining protective embankments.

“These unscientific activities have amplified the impact of floods, turning a natural calamity into a far more severe crisis. The havoc in Udhampur is several times worse than in other regions of J&K due to ecological disruption caused by mining,” he observed.

During his interactions with locals, Pathania noted that most losses suffered by households, farmers, and small traders did not qualify for compensation under SDRF norms and described the kitty announced by the J&K government as “a mere drop in the ocean”.

He urged the Modi government at the Centre to announce a special package on the lines of the 2014 Srinagar floods, ensuring comprehensive relief, restoration of critical infrastructure, revival of economic activity, and implementation of long-term flood-prevention measures to bring normalcy back and make Jammu and Kashmir more resilient.

He directed officials to provide shelters, rations, drinking water, medicines, and temporary connectivity while ensuring daily monitoring of relief distribution.

Pathania stressed the urgent need to strengthen roads, bridges, schools, health centres, irrigation channels, and public utilities and emphasised that flood management and disaster preparedness should be an integral part of the annual budget, with funds allocated for embankments, desilting, protective walls, and resilient infrastructure.

“This calamity offers hard lessons that must be learnt and applied immediately to prevent future disasters,” the BJP MLA said, urging authorities to adopt a proactive, long-term approach rather than only reactive relief measures.

Pathania assured the people that the central government was standing shoulder to shoulder with every affected family and emphasised that recovery must be coupled with protection, prevention, and long-term resilience measures.

Jammu, Aug 28: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu & Kashmir President Sat Sharma, accompanied by Vice-President Rashpaul Verma, MLA Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, District President Asha Rani, senior leader Subhash Bhagat and other party leaders, visited the flood-affected areas of Ramgarh Assembly in district Samba to take firsthand account of the losses caused by incessant rains and subsequent flash-floods.

The BJP leaders, along with local workers and administrative officials, interacted with the affected families and listened to their problems with a commitment to ensure that timely relief and restoration measures are initiated.

During the tour, the delegation visited several worst-hit villages including Paloora, Sarthia, Chachwal, Chilaria, Sanoora, and Sujana, where the heavy downpour and gushing waters have caused widespread damage. The leaders also reviewed the alarming situation that has arisen due to the collapse of the bridge on the Sartiyan Road, which has badly affected connectivity and hampered movement of the local population. Speaking on the occasion, Sat Sharma emphasized that the BJP, true to its ideology of serving the nation and its people, has always been at the forefront in responding to natural calamities.

“Our teams are working tirelessly to note down the problems being faced by every affected family in all the flood-affected areas, and we are ensuring that remedial measures are taken up with the concerned authorities on priority. The aim of BJP is not only to extend immediate relief but also to create a roadmap for long-term solutions so that such situations do not cripple the lives of people in future”, said Sat Sharma.

He further said that the party has already taken up the issue of urgent restoration of roads and bridges with the administration, along with compensation for other damages.

Ramban, Aug 28: Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained blocked for the third consecutive day due to the washing away of road stretches at three different places between Udhampur and Ramban on Thursday.

However, the Ramban to Banihal road stretch was partially opened for some Srinagar-bound vehicles on Thursday. Official sources said road restoration work at several places between Chennai and the Udhampur sector has been started by the NHAI.

Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Saloni Rai, DIG, Udhampur – Reasi Sarah Rizvi, SSP Traffic National Highway (Headquarter) Ramban, Raja Adil Hamid, are personally monitoring the ongoing road restoration work at several locations between Udhampur and Chenani. Authorities said efforts are being made to restore the Udhampur-Chenani sector of National Highway 44.

Officials said massive damage was inflicted on the National Highway between Jakhiani and Samrolli, especially near Dewal bridge, 100 meters short of Samroli, Bali Nalla, Tharad Bridge and at other locations. Traffic authorities said Jammu-Srinagar NHW (NH-44) is closed for vehicular movement from Jakeni (Udhampur) towards Srinagar due to damage at several places between Jakheni, Udhampur and Chenani.

No vehicular movement shall be allowed from Nagrota (Jammu) towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, Srinagar etc. Commuters from Katra and Udhampur towns are requested to keep their photo ID card to prove their identification so that their movement can be facilitated smoothly. Meanwhile, authorities have appealed to the public to avoid unnecessary travel on National Highway 44 (NH-44), especially during heavy rains, and follow official advisories for their safety.

On the other hand Jammu – Pathankot National Highway was opened. Traffic authorities said one tube of each bridge of Lakhanpur-Madhopur, Sahar Khad, and Vijaypur on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway has been damaged due to incessant rains. However, the second tube of each bridge is operational for vehicular movement on a regulatory basis.

Commuters are advised to maintain lane discipline to avoid congestion, its said.