Srinagar, Oct 17: The Uri-Baramulla highway remained closed for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday following massive landslides triggered by heavy rainfall at Rajarwani, even as electricity supply was restored in around 50 affected villages in Uri.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Uri Gaurav Yadav told Rising Kashmir that electricity had been restored in the affected villages, while efforts were underway to reopen the highway for traffic.
“One-way traffic will be allowed temporarily during the night, but the road will be closed again tomorrow to facilitate complete clearance work,” the SDM said.
However, till the filing of this report, the highway had not been reopened for one-way traffic, according to local residents.
Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Uri, Imran Latief said electricity was restored on Saturday night on a priority basis.
He said a scheduled shutdown would be observed during the daytime on Sunday to carry out the remaining maintenance work and ensure a stable power supply.
Meanwhile, MLA Uri Dr Sajjad Shafi visited the landslide-hit stretch of the Uri-Baramulla national highway on Saturday to assess the situation and review the ongoing restoration work.
He appreciated the efforts of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the construction company and the Power Development Department (PDD) for their work and directed the concerned agencies to restore essential services at the earliest.
SDM Uri Gaurav Yadav, accompanied by SDPO Uri, also visited the affected spot to take stock of the situation and issued directions for expediting restoration work.
The prolonged disruption triggered resentment among residents, who said the closure of the highway had caused considerable hardship to commuters and people dependent on the road for access to essential services.
While welcoming the restoration of electricity, locals urged the authorities to ensure that road connectivity was restored at the earliest, preferably by Saturday night, to bring relief to the affected population.
The Uri-Baramulla highway is a vital link connecting Uri with Baramulla and other parts of Kashmir. Residents have repeatedly raised concerns over frequent traffic disruptions since the two-laning work was taken up along the stretch.
Repeated closures have forced commuters to use alternative routes to reach their destinations, adding to travel time and inconvenience.
