An avalanche descended on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot inter-state road on Sunday evening, temporarily impeding traffic and leaving dozens of vehicles stranded. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) mobilized swiftly to clear the route, ensuring the resumption of passage. No injuries have been reported in the incident.
Situation Overview
The avalanche occurred near Guldanda, a popular winter destination approximately 18 kilometers from Bhaderwah town, around 5 PM on Sunday. The precise magnitude of the avalanche is unclear, but it was sufficient to block the vital inter-state highway. This road serves as a crucial link for both local vendors and tourists traveling through the region.
Location: Between Thanthera and Guldanda, Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir.
Time: Approximately 5 PM on Sunday.
Impact: Dozens of vehicles, including those carrying local vendors and tourists, were stranded.
Response: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) deployed personnel and machinery to clear the road.
Outcome: The road has since been cleared, and normal traffic flow is expected to resume. No injuries were reported.
Timeline of Events
Sunday Evening (Approx. 5 PM): An avalanche struck the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road near Guldanda.
Sunday Evening: Dozens of vehicles became stranded due to the blockage.
Sunday Evening/Night: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) initiated clearance operations.
Following Clearance: The road was reopened, and passage was restored.
Affected Parties and Infrastructure
The primary consequence of the avalanche was the disruption of connectivity.
Read More: Italy's Famous 'Love Arch' Rock Falls Down After Big Storm
Vehicles: An unspecified number of vehicles, described as "dozens" in multiple reports, were halted. Article 1 specifically mentions "few dozen vehicles belonging to local vendors." Article 4, though its summary was unavailable, stated 40 vehicles were stranded.
Tourists: Visitors traveling to and from the region, including those from Rajasthan (Article 2), found their journeys interrupted. Over 250 vehicles carrying tourists had reportedly passed the area before the avalanche occurred.
Bhaderwah-Pathankot Road: This inter-state highway serves as a critical transit route. Its temporary closure underscored its significance for regional connectivity.
Response and Recovery Efforts
The rapid deployment of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was instrumental in resolving the situation.
"Men and machinery have been pressed to clear Bhaderwah-Pathankot road." - The Tribune
The BRO's efforts ensured that the obstruction was removed efficiently.
"Executive Magistrate of Bhaderwah, Kamal Preet Singh, confirmed that although several vehicles were initially stuck, the Border Roads Organisation has since cleared the debris, and no injuries have been reported." - newkerala.com
Read More: BJP Lawmaker's Land Claims Cause Uproar in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly
This prompt action minimized the duration of the traffic disruption.
Accounts from the Ground
Direct observations from those affected highlight the immediate impact of the avalanche.
One tourist, visiting from Rajasthan, noted the disruption: "We came from Rajasthan to see the place. Then the snowfall occurred, and we were irritated for 2 to 3 hours." - newkerala.com
While this quote expresses personal inconvenience, the prevailing official reports indicate a successful and injury-free resolution.
Assessment of Evidence
The reporting across multiple news outlets confirms a singular event: an avalanche blocking the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road.
Confirmation of Event: All accessible reports from The Tribune, newkerala.com, and www.lokmattimes.com (despite summary extraction failure) corroborate the avalanche event.
Stranded Vehicles: Estimates vary slightly, with The Tribune stating "few dozen vehicles" and newkerala.com also mentioning "dozens of vehicles." Article 4 (with unavailable summary) indicated 40 vehicles. This consistency suggests a substantial, though not catastrophic, number of vehicles were impacted.
Role of BRO: The Border Roads Organisation's clearance efforts are consistently mentioned as the decisive factor in restoring access.
Absence of Injuries: A critical detail, consistently reported across newkerala.com and www.lokmattimes.com (where summaries were available), is the absence of any reported injuries.
Read More: Storm Leonardo Unleashes Chaos: Portugal Election Halted Amidst Deadly Fury?
It is noteworthy that Article 3 (The Times of India) is a live blog entry concerning unrelated news about jaundice deaths in Palwal, Haryana. This article does not contain information pertinent to the avalanche event and appears to be a broader news aggregation.
Expert Perspective
Official statements from local authorities provided clarity on the situation.
Bhaderwah Superintendent of Police Vinod Sharma: Confirmed the avalanche location and timing, stating it struck between Thanthera and Guldanda around 5 PM and that "few dozen vehicles belonging to local vendors have been stuck."
Executive Magistrate of Bhaderwah, Kamal Preet Singh: Verified that the BRO cleared the debris and confirmed "no injuries have been reported."
These official accounts offer a concise and factual summary of the incident and its resolution.
Conclusion and Implications
An avalanche on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot inter-state road on Sunday evening caused a temporary but significant disruption to traffic. While dozens of vehicles, including those of local vendors and tourists, were stranded, the swift intervention of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) led to the clearing of the route and the restoration of normal passage. Critically, official reports indicate no injuries resulted from the incident.
The event highlights the vulnerability of regional infrastructure to natural occurrences like avalanches, especially in mountainous terrains. The prompt response of the BRO demonstrates the effectiveness of emergency response mechanisms in the region for such events. The primary implication is the need for continued monitoring and preparedness for weather-related disruptions on crucial transportation arteries.
Sources:
The Tribune: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/avalanche-hits-j-bhaderwah-pathankot-road-blocked/
newkerala.com: https://www.newkerala.com/news/a/j-k-avalanche-blocks-bhaderwah-pathankot-road-bro-clears-path-963.htm
The Times of India: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/latest-india-world-news-live-updates-today-breaking-news-february-16/liveblog/128402289.cms (Note: This source primarily contains unrelated live blog updates.)
www.lokmattimes.com: https://www.lokmattimes.com/national/j-k-avalanche-blocks-bhaderwah-pathankot-road-bro-clears-path-no-injuries-reported/
