With the weather showing signs of improvement in Jammu, the Union Territory’s administration has decided to reopen schools across the region from September 10. But all the institution heads and staff members will report for duty from September 8, according to a circular issued by Jammu’s Director School Education Dr Naseem Javaid Chowdhary.
The heads will ensure readiness for offline classes after carrying out a comprehensive security and safety audit of the school buildings, and take a decision on the matter with effect from September 20, the statement added.
All government and private schools across the Jammu province were shut since August 24 following inclement weather conditions.
For a change, Jammu saw a bright, sunny day on September 5, but the Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed as a landslide had paused vehicular traffic between Udhampur and Ramban. The Sinthan road connecting Jammu’s Kishtwar district with Anantnag in South Kashmir was also closed.
However, Mughal Road – between the border Poonch district of Jammu and Shopian in Kashmir – was reopened for vehicular traffic on Thursday afternoon.
The yatra to the Vaishnodevi shrine also remained suspended for the 11th consecutive day. The yatra was suspended following the death of 34 pilgrims following a landslide on the track near Adh Kunwari on August 26.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Ministerial Central Team sent by the Central Government visited the flood and rain-affected areas of Udhampur district to assess the damages. The team gauged the extent of damage across the region – including Malhar and Thard as well as stretches of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway NH-44. The team was accompanied by MLA Chenani Balwant Singh Mankotia, Udhampur’s Additional Deputy Commissioner Prem Singh and other senior officers from various line departments, who briefed them on the damages caused.
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After the field inspection, a detailed meeting was convened in the Conference Hall DC Office Complex Udhampur, where Deputy Commissioner Saloni Rai briefed on rescue and relief operations, restoration measures, rehabilitation efforts and damages to crops, private property, government infrastructure, agricultural land and residential houses.
Rai said that 38 relief camps have been established across the district, sheltering over 2,000 affected persons, with the administration ensuring food, shelter and other essential supplies.
The team was also apprised about around 380 roads being damaged, of which 190 have already been restored. Connectivity has been re-established in almost all areas, except certain parts of Dudu-Basantgarh and Moungri, where restoration work is still in progress.
