Fresh landslides block Batote highway, vehicles stranded

Ranjit Thakur

Doda, April 7

More than 50 vehicles carrying essentials, including vegetables, fruits, ration, petrol and diesel, were stranded on the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway today as fresh landslides blocked it at several places.

Landslides blocked the 110-km-long Batote-Kishtwar national highway at Drabshalla, Premnagar, Assar, Raggi Nullah and Dhansal.

Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, GN Balwan said: “The highway is closed for the past couple of days due to torrential rain and fresh landslides at Kuligand-Drabshalla, but work is on to clear the road. Hopefully, we will be able to clear the highway for traffic by evening.”

“There is sufficient stock of petrol, diesel, vegetables and other essentials in the district for a couple of days. Many vehicles are standard on the highway,” the DC said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Aftab Bukhari said: “We have cleared the landslide debris and boulders in the Raggi Nullah, Dhansal and Assar areas of Doda. Though the road was cleared between Doda and Batote this afternoon, we had to halt the traffic for a few more hours due to the election duty convoy.”

Due to the return of the cold conditions in the Chenab region, the district administrations of Doda and Kishtwar ordered closure of all educational institutions for the second consecutive day today.

“We ordered closure of all educational institutions today, considering the safety of the children. We will review the situation and accordingly take a decision for the coming days,” said Ashraf Rather, Chief Education Officer, Doda.

Meanwhile, windstorm and heavy rain have caused havoc in Bhaderwah, Gandoh, Bhallessa and many other parts of Doda district for the past couple of days.

Sub-District Magistrate, Gandoh, Dalmir Choudhary said: “The rooftops of more than 25 houses were blown away by the storm in Gandoh.”

Adozen houses have reportedly been damaged by the windstorm in the Bhaderwah subdivision. Several link roads in Doda district have been blocked by landslides.

Schools remain shut 

• Due to the return of the cold conditions in the Chenab region, the district administrations of Doda and Kishtwar ordered closure of all educational institutions for the second consecutive day on Friday
• Over a dozen houses have reportedly been damaged by the windstorm in the Bhaderwah subdivision. Several link roads in Doda district have been blocked by landslides