Rajouri Struggles: Landslides Cripple Kotranka-Khawas Road Amid Restoration Efforts

The Kotranka-Khawas road in Rajouri district has faced severe damage due to relentless heavy rainfall and landslides over the past fortnight, according to Dilmir Choudhary, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kotranka. With a section of the road washed away and several homes damaged, restoration efforts are underway, though they face delays due to the extent of the damage.

Choudhary reported that 150 meters of the road has vanished, necessitating the construction of a new road. The government has released a short-term tender and commenced the tender allotment process, with full restoration expected to take about a month. Financial support has been sanctioned for this purpose to ensure community access is reinstated promptly.

The 32-kilometer road, completed recently during the 2023-24 period, connects Kotranka and Khawas. Its closure has isolated communities, preventing students from attending school and obstructing access to medical care for the sick, forcing residents to walk long distances for necessities. Reconstruction efforts confront challenges due to ongoing subsidence, adding urgency to the already critical situation.

(With inputs from agencies.)