Highway Remains Closed On 5th Day, Hits Emergency Medical Supplies

Srinagar, March 31 (GNS): The closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting  Kashmir Valley with the outside world, has severely affected essential medical supplies and even shortage has been reported in some hospitals in Kashmir Valley, sources said on Tuesday.

In a bid to meet the supplies, authorities even had to arrange a special flight to bringing in supplies of emergent nature to fight the Covid-19, they added.

Talking to GNS, a senior government officer, who did not want to be named, said that some hospitals in Srinagar and elsewhere have severe shortage of the supplies. “Everything in stuck on the highway,” he said.

To meet the demands on day to day basis, he said: “we had to arrange a flight and it arrived in Jammu. Possibly we will receive supplies by a special flight at Srinagar tomorrow.” He, however, said that supplies which are stuck on the highway are in bulk and would suffice the immediate needs as well as for next few days.

Questions have been even raised in the past about the lack of urgency by the national highway authority of India in restoring the highway.

On Tuesday afternoon, the traffic authorities informed that there will be no movement of any kind of vehicle on the highway in view of the “MeT prediction for rain and thunder in J&K.”

In a statement, it said, men and machinery were on job the clear the blockade of the highway due to landslides and shooting stones at Dalwas and Monkey Morh. “It will take time to clear the debris,” it said.

Actually a portion of the highway at Dalwas has sunk, resulting in the suspension of vehicular movement on the strategic thoroughfare.

Sources said the trucks laden with essential goods and oil tankers bound for Kashmir have been stopped at Udhampur and Jammu.

Earlier, Inspector general of Police, Traffic J&K, T. Namgyal (IPS), while talking to GNS expressed hope that strategic road might be reopened tomorrow. “Hopefully, the highway may be restored for traffic tomorrow but we will communicate it,” he said.   (GNS)