Kishtwar admin advises public to avoid travel on Sinthan Road

Ramban, Mar 16: The District Administration of Kishtwar on Monday issued a public safety advisory asking people to refrain from travelling on the Kishtwar–Sinthan National Highway via Sinthan Top due to severe weather conditions.

According to the advisory issued by Pankaj Kumar Sharma, District Magistrate and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Kishtwar, the route has become highly unsafe following heavy snowfall, snow accumulation on road stretches, slippery surfaces, and the looming threat of avalanches and landslides along the mountainous terrain leading to Sinthan Top.

The administration warned that the movement of vehicles and pedestrians on the route is extremely dangerous under the current conditions and urged the general public, transporters, tourists, and drivers not to undertake travel from Kishtwar towards Sinthan Top and vice versa until the road is declared safe and traffic-worthy by the competent authorities.

The advisory further directed all concerned departments, including the Police, Traffic Police, and road maintenance agencies such as Border Roads Organisation, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), to maintain strict vigil and ensure effective enforcement of the order.

Authorities have also been instructed to set up checkpoints and barricades at appropriate locations to regulate and restrict vehicular movement towards vulnerable stretches of the road.

The district administration stated that the advisory has been issued in the larger interest of public safety and disaster risk mitigation, adding that any violation of the advisory will invite strict legal action under relevant provisions of law.

Officials have urged residents and travellers to stay updated with official advisories before planning travel on high-altitude routes in the district.