10 July, Ramban (Jammu and Kashmir), India: Due to Sunday’s torrential rains, a road in the Chabba Seri section of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH44) washed away.
A local on his way there, Mohammed Jahangir, said that the region’s roads were being swept away by the downpour and that the government had not made sufficient preparations for the guests.
“We have a lot of issues to deal with. We have to move around a lot. On the way, a road had just washed away. We had to walk 1-2 km in Makarkot, and we have already gone an additional 3–4 kilometres. Another road washed away as we approached Ramban. The public is not provided with any arrangements. The government has to either stop people from entering the Ramban stretch or make the appropriate preparations to allow them to continue, he told ANI.
Earlier on Sunday, the overflowing Chenab River near Ramban swept away a shed where a langar (community kitchen) was set up for Amarnath pilgrims.
Owners of langars said that recent days of widespread, heavy rains caused the water level of the Chenab River to increase. The temporary accommodations for the Amarnath visitors were destroyed by the surging floods.
Continuous rains over the last several days in different regions of Jammu and Kashmir have severely damaged National Highway-44, particularly the section in the Ramban district, necessitating its closure to traffic.
“Until July 10, 2023, traffic on NH-44 must be stopped. In light of this, the general public is recommended to stay off NH-44 until the administration issues a confirmation, according to a statement from the J-K Police. Meanwhile, a group of 6,491 pilgrims visited the sacred cave in Amarnath as the weather significantly improved on Sunday.
On August 31, 2023, the 62-day Shri Amarnath Yatra will come to an end.
