J&K-Punjab connectivity in shambles due to flash floods, alternative bridge develops crack

Days after flash floods damaged the main bridge over Tarnah Nallah near Dayala Chak in Kathua, the Chakra bridge on an alternate border road also developed cracks due to which traffic was halted for 5-6 hours on Friday, July 28. Authorities have decided to stop loaded trucks, trailers, and other heavy goods carriers from moving on this route as a precautionary measure.

National Highway Infrastructure woes amid flash floods

Soon after the cracks were noticed, Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rakesh Minhas along with SSP Kathua Shivdeep Singh Jamwal reached the spot and directed the police to close this bridge for the movement of heavy goods carriers/trucks, trailers etc, thus diverting heavy vehicles from Lakhanpur to Dhar Road. However, passenger buses and other Light Motor Vehicles are being allowed via border roads.

SSP Kathua Shivdeep Singh Jamwal told Republic Media Network, "The movements of loaded trucks, trailers and other heavy goods carriers entering Jammu and Kashmir have been diverted to Dhar road from Lakhanpur to avoid heavy load on the border road which is now the only connectivity route for Jammu to Punjab National Highway. The National Highway of Jammu- Pathankot caters for a load of 2000 loaded trucks, trailers, and other heavy goods carriers on a daily basis, for which the border roads aren’t prepared."

The officials of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) informed Republic TV that attempts are being to ensure that traffic is resumed from the main route within a week's time. “We are trying to reconnect the stretch via the alternate bridge, and we are hopeful that temporary connectivity will be established in the next 4-5 days and two-way traffic by August 15,” he added.

On the morning of July 19, the Tarnah bridge near Dayalachak on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway was damaged due to a flash flood in the river. The sudden heavy flood in the river Tarnah caused damage to three pillars of the 580-meter-long bridge located between Dayalachak and Chadwal Morh stations on the Jammu-Pathankot-Delhi National Highway. As a result, traffic movement on this busy highway came to a halt at around 6 am and then was diverted to the old border route from Chadwal Morh-Sanji Morh- Chaktra-Londi- Rajpura-Ghagwal.

The weather department has predicted isolated heavy rainfall over the Jammu region especially during the late night/early morning period on July 28 and has asked people to refrain from going near water bodies.