Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu, (DD): Scores of truck drivers found themselves stranded in precarious conditions after massive landslides triggered by continuous rainfall blocked the vital Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, leaving them with no option but to wait in uncertainty. With long lines of trucks and supply vehicles stuck across stretches near Ramban, the blockade has disrupted essential supply chains and left the drivers “caught between the devil and the deep sea.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who visited the affected area personally, assured the public that the highway would be reopened for single-lane traffic within 24 hours.
“Our foremost priority was to rescue people trapped due to the landslides, and we acted swiftly to evacuate them safely,” Omar said while addressing the media in Srinagar. “Now, our focus is on reconnecting the highway so that supplies can reach areas like Ramban without further delay.”
The Chief Minister confirmed that top officials, including the Deputy Chief Minister and the local MLA, visited Ramban on the first day of the crisis, followed by his own visit the next day to monitor relief and clearance efforts.
He emphasized the urgency of swift action: “Any work completed at a fast pace is more impactful and beneficial in such situations.”
Meanwhile, truckers and commuters continue to grapple with poor weather, fuel shortages, and lack of basic amenities. Many are sleeping in their vehicles, uncertain of when they’ll be able to move again.
The administration has begun offering temporary relief to the affected, and the Chief Minister stated that compensation would be provided based on the norms of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
“We will also request the Government of India to declare the affected area a disaster zone to ensure broader support for the victims,” he added.
As clearance operations continue under tight timelines, the lives and livelihoods of those stuck on the highway remain in limbo—hoping the promised relief arrives as swiftly as pledged.(DD)
