Doda highway blocked after landslides

Ranjit Thakur

Doda, July 23

Heavy rain overnight in the Chenab region has damaged the 60-km-long Doda-Kishtwar highway.

Due to the downpour, the highway was covered with mud, blocking the vehicular traffic in Bhandarkote, Drabshallah, Thathri and Jangalwad for 10 hours following fresh landslides and shooting stones.

Long queues of vehicles were seen on both sides of the highway. Some of the vehicles had got stuck in mud and landslide debris.

An official said, “The Doda-Kishtwar highway was blocked since Thursday morning due to heavy landslides, slippery conditions and shooting stones at various places. The highway was cleared by the authorities for traffic around 3.30 pm.”

Though the government had said it had made all arrangements for the Machail yatra, commencing from July 26, not much has been done on the ground.

The 200-km road between Batote and Kishtwar is in a bad condition, causing inconvenience to commuters.

The sinking of portions of the road and landslides at a dozen places are the reason for frequent traffic jams.

Chairman of the Machail Yatra Committee Chuni Lal Thakur said, “We had requested the administration several times to repair the road and make it motorable before the yatra, but our requests have gone unheard.”

Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Javed Khan said: “The number one priority of the district administration is the Machail yatra and Sarthal Mata. We have directed the Border Roads Organisation to keep road-clearing machines at these places round the clock.”

The Machail yatra is the second largest annual yatra in Jammu and Kashmir after the Amarnath yatra. Last year, over 1.5 lakh pilgrims offered prayers at the shrine.

The Machail Yatra Committee hopes the figure will cross over 3 lakh this year.