As reported by the Ramban Deputy Commissioner: “Work is underway at Seri, Ramban, by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to construct an emergency bypass to restore traffic on National Highway-44.”
Jammu and Kashmir, July 11; Ramban. According to a government spokesman on Tuesday, construction on a diversion around the Chabba Seri traffic jam continued unabated throughout the night.
Meanwhile on Monday, the official said, crews were hard at work repairing the section of road that had been eroded by the recent downpour. As reported by the Ramban Deputy Commissioner: “Work is underway at Seri, Ramban, by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to construct an emergency bypass to restore traffic on National Highway-44.”
Mohammed Jahangir, a local on his way to the area, had earlier reported that roads were being swept away in the rain, and that the government had made no efforts to rescue trapped visitors.
We have a lot of issues right now. We have to walk a long way because of this. We had to reroute our trip recently since a road had been washed away. After walking between one and two km in Makarkot, we now face another three to four kilometres on foot. Another road washed away just as we got to Ramban. There is nothing set up for the general public or tourists. He told ANI that authorities should either prevent travellers from going to the Ramban section altogether or make other arrangements so that they may continue.
The overflowing Chenab River in Ramban swept away a structure on Sunday where a langar (community kitchen) was opened for Amarnath pilgrims.
The Chenab River was reportedly in flood after days of steady and severe rains in numerous places. They said that the improvised lodgings for the Amarnath pilgrims had been swept away by the increasing rivers.
