Visits landslide hit village Marog, holds meeting with administration
TAHIR MUSHTAQ
RAMBAN: DD, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah travelled on Jammu-Srinagar Highway to review the situation in the wake of incessant rains and landslides in Ramban.
The Chief Minister visited Marog village – situated alongside the highway – took on the spot review of the situation of the highway and Ramban District due to the landslide/cloudburst.
One portion of the Marog village has sunk into the Chenab River due to the ongoing heavy rain.
Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mohammed Ilyas Khan, all department’s heads, police officers, and MLAs were also present to brief him about the situation.
In this meeting, Omar Abdullah directed the administration to provide relief, and rehabilitate the Rajgarh cludbrust victims and other heavy downpour victims.
He was given detailed information about the work that is being initiated to keep the highway open, following its closure due to shooting stones, and landslides.
Regarding the highway status, Omar Abdullah told reporters in Marogh (Ramban) that he has spoken to the District Administration Ramban and NHAI regarding highway status.
Although the authorities have an alternative as of now, and it has also been prepared to double lane traffic, he said that the roads damaged due to landslides will take approximately 20 to 25 days for restoration.
He said that the worst affected portion of the highway is in Udhampur and its surrounding areas. If it is restored, he said that then they will be able to release traffic from here.
Whereas, he said that most of the interior roads have been opened for vehicular traffic. However, the pending will also be opened soon.
Referring to the cloudburst in Ramban that killed atleast four members of a family, and one woman went missing following the house collapse at Rajgarh, the Chief Minister said that the MLA spoke to him, following the natural disaster and he immediately spoke to the officers concerns, and accordingly announced relief. The administration had also made arrangements for the victims under Red Cross, while assuring that his Govt will do more.
Later, the Chief Minister left for Udhampur. Further Information is awaited.DD
