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| Army gears up to fight ‘weather blues’ on Mughal Road | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Dec 1: The Indian Army is all set to carry out rescue operations on snow-bound Mughal Road as the civilian movement likely to increase on the link connecting bordering districts of Rajouri and Poonch with the Kashmir valley. Defence sources that historic Mughal Road provides a better link to Kashmir with rest of the country and however, nearly 31 kilometers road remains under snow cover from December to March and around six kilometer is prone to avalanches and landslides.
They said, "In such adverse and challenging situations, the travelers plying on this route often find themselves helpless as they get caught in snow, avalanche or at times landslides, thus getting stranded for long hours without any help." "Every year snow clearance jobs are undertaken on a war-footing to open this alternative highway for vehicular movement and check posts are established at various places to facilitate smooth flow of traffic," said Defence sources.
The check posts are being jointly manned by Army and J&K Police, adding, "local populace have very high regards for the security forces deployed in the area who have witnessed daring rescue operations during day and night undertaken by Army and Police."
"Indian Army works hand in hand with civil administration to accomplish unthinkable and have saved many lives," they said and added, "timely assistance provided by security forces have saved many lives particularly of passengers travelling on this road by providing then warm them food, shelter and medical aid in all types of distress situation like road accident, vehicle getting broken down or vehicle getting struck in snow in harsh weather conditions."
Local people feel a sense of security knowing that security forces are around them to help them in case of any eventuality, they said and added, "with absolute disregard to their own safety security forces often plunge into action and wage robust rescue efforts to assist people and bring stranded to safety."
For their devotion to duty, indomitable spirit and unquenchable vigour these men deserve the 'Valhalla' of Indian hearts, they said. Mughal Road connects Bufliaz, Poonch district of Jammu region to the Shopian district of Kashmir Valley. The historical route has been used since Mughal era to cross over Pir Panjal Range at Peer Ki Gali (3,500m) to reach Kashmir valley.
Peer Ki Gali is named after a Hindu saint who embarrassed Islam and is popularly known as Seikh Ahmed Karim. After independence in 1979, the Govt of J&K took up this project in 1979 and named it the "Mughal Road".
Construction of the road started in 2005 but the work got halted when the Bafliaz bridge on the road was blown up by terrorists.
Finally after overcoming all impediments, the 84 Km double-lane road was completed and opened for light vehicles traffic in August 2012.
The opening of road has not only enhanced people to people contact, but has also provided opportunities to locals involved in business and trade. Since the opening of the road there has been a constant increase in movement of people and load carrier's which at times cross the figure of 1000 vehicles per day.
Immediate fallout is availability of fruits and vegetables to people of twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch at almost half the price thus boosting the economy of both the regions. 'Kashmiri Wazwan' has now become a standard menu in every celebration in Poonch and Rajouri. Unemployed Post graduate candidates hailing from Kashmir prefer to take up jobs in twin districts and a good number of students after completion of their graduation joined University of Kashmir, Central University of Kashmir and Awantipora Islamic University for post graduate courses from the twin districts. Mughal Road passes through unwavering topography and landscape as compared to Jammu-Srinagar national Highway. |
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