Dawood Bashir
KISHTWAR
File Pic: Bilal Handoo
Continuous rains Since Wednesday midnight have created havoc in entire Chenab Valley. Heavy rainfall derailed the normal life while mercury dipped too low leading to bone chilling weather.
The continuous rainfall triggered landslide at Raggi Nallah area due to which the vehicular movement on Batote-Kishtwar National Highway (NH1B) was disrupted. Hundreds of vehicles are stranded along the highway while Border Road Organisation men are on job to restore the vehicular traffic.
“Rains will continue till Saturday afternoon,” said an official from metrological department, “Rain is a common affair during March-April; there is no need to panic but some sort of caution is necessary.”
Shooting stones and landslides are feared due to heavy rainfall as the entire stretch of Batote-Kishtwar road is landslide prone and vulnerable to shooting stones.
Places like Marwah, Padder, Dachann, Warwan, Bhalessa, Sinthantop, Margantop and Machil areas with higher altitude have experienced light snowfall. People of hilly areas have been advised to stay at home.
Batote-Kishtwar highway is the only connectivity to the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar having over 11 lakh souls.
