Srinagar, Oct 15: Massive landslides triggered by heavy rainfall at Rajarwani area has kept the Uri-Baramulla highway closed for the second day on Thursday, disrupting traffic movement and leaving at least 50 villages in the Uri area without electricity after a 33 KV power line was damaged.
Officials said restoration work on the highway was underway and traffic was expected to resume on Friday, while electricity has also not been restored due to the extent of the damage.
The landslides occurred at Rajarwani near ADIT-4, adjacent to NHPC Uri-I, where shooting stones continued to pose a serious threat to commuters, prompting the Uri administration to issue a traffic advisory late Wednesday night.
In the advisory, the administration urged people to avoid the affected stretch and use the alternate route via Gingle–Dawaran–Paranpillan–Bandi–Uri until the road was cleared.
The prolonged closure has caused considerable inconvenience to residents, particularly those travelling for work and other essential purposes.
Locals said frequent disruptions on the highway had become routine since the widening of the strategic road was taken up. They said repeated closures were affecting daily life and forcing commuters to take longer alternate routes to reach their destinations.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Uri Gaurav Yadav said clearance work is underway at the affected Rajarwani stretch.
“I visited the spot and it is a massive landslide. We are expecting it to be opened for traffic by Friday morning,” he told Rising Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the landslides have also disrupted electricity supply to dozens of villages after damaging a 33 KV transmission line and several electric poles in the area.
Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Uri, Imran Latief, said restoration work could not begin today as access to the affected stretch was not restored.
“Heavy landslides have caused extensive damage to the power infrastructure. The 33 KV line has been damaged, along with around four electric poles. We are waiting for the highway to reopen so that restoration work can begin,” he said.
He added, “If the road reopens by tomorrow during the day, we expect electricity to be restored by tomorrow evening. Otherwise, restoration may take until Saturday.”
Locals have appealed to the administration and concerned departments to clear the highway and restore electricity at the earliest to minimise the hardship caused by the landslides.
