The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), operating under its Project Sampark initiative, has successfully reinstated crucial road connectivity across the Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi districts of Jammu. This restoration comes after a period of relentless rainfall that triggered numerous landslides, significantly disrupting traffic and normal movement in the region. The BRO’s swift response demonstrated a high level of operational readiness in addressing the challenges posed by the adverse weather conditions and difficult terrain.
Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the heavy downpour, which persisted from July 19 to July 24, caused landslides at multiple points, leading to the blockage of key roadways in these strategically important border districts. In response to the emergency, the organization promptly deployed its personnel, along with heavy machinery and essential equipment, to commence round-the-clock road clearance operations. These efforts were undertaken despite the challenging weather and the inherent difficulties of the mountainous landscape.
According to a statement released by the BRO, the landslides impacted several vital roads, including a significant stretch of National Highway-144A that connects Rajouri and Poonch. The organization’s teams immediately mobilized to the affected sites, working diligently to clear the accumulated debris. This clearance was critical to facilitating the movement of essential resources, vital services, military vehicles, and the local populace. Roads that link Reasi to Mahore and connect Rajouri with Budhal, Mahore, and Gul also experienced multiple landslide incidents. A diversion at Badora Nallah was notably washed away due to the intense water flow. However, the BRO’s pre-existing monsoon preparedness measures enabled the rapid deployment of resources to identified vulnerable locations, mitigating further disruption.
The organization further highlighted that priority was given to restoring roads in forward areas to ensure the unimpeded movement of security forces. At the Badora Nallah crossing, a 200-foot Bailey Bridge had been pre-emptively launched, a measure taken based on prior experience with similar situations. This strategic intervention ensured the smooth flow of traffic and prevented Mahore from becoming isolated from Rajouri and Budhal. The continuous rainfall, however, also inflicted considerable damage on the road infrastructure and the equipment that had been deployed by contractors working on the Rajouri–Thanamandi road, NH-144A in Poonch, and various other project sites.
Working under hazardous conditions, the BRO teams were instrumental in removing the debris, stabilizing precarious road sections, and restoring traffic on the affected routes in the shortest possible timeframe. The prompt and decisive action taken by the BRO ensured that critical road links remained operational, thereby facilitating the crucial movement of security forces, emergency responders, and essential supplies to the areas that had been impacted by the landslides. The resilience and efficiency of the BRO in managing such natural calamities underscore their vital role in maintaining connectivity and ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents in the challenging terrain of Jammu and Kashmir.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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