Chaudhary Zulfiqar Ali Voices Concern Over Road Closures in Budhal–Darhal Due to Snowfall

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

RAJOURI JANUARY 24:-Former Minister and Vice President of the Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chaudhary Zulfiqar Ali, has expressed serious concern over the prolonged closure of roads in the Budhal–Darhal area of Rajouri district following heavy snowfall and incessant rainfall.

In a press statement issued here today Chaudhary Zulfiqar Ali said he has received numerous distress calls from residents of various villages in the Budhal Assembly Constituency. The callers informed him that the Rajouri–Budhal main road, a vital link connecting the area with the district headquarters, has remained closed for the past two days, causing severe inconvenience to the local population.
He stated that heavy snowfall has caused extensive damage to public infrastructure. Power supply in the region has been badly disrupted, while interior roads across the constituency are in poor condition, leaving several areas completely cut off from the sub-divisional headquarters Kotranka and district headquarters Rajouri. Water supply and internet connectivity have also been adversely affected.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Chaudhary Zulfiqar Ali said that patients, students, elderly people, and daily commuters are facing immense hardship due to the lack of road connectivity and essential services.

The former minister urged the District Administration Rajouri to expedite snow clearance operations and ensure the immediate restoration of essential utilities, including electricity, water supply, and internet services. He also appealed for the temporary closure of educational institutions in the affected areas until weather conditions improve and road connectivity is fully restored, in the interest of student safety.

Emphasizing the need for uninterrupted supply of essential commodities, he said necessary arrangements must be made to prevent public suffering during the ongoing spell of inclement weather.
Chaudhary Zulfiqar Ali further informed that he has personally taken up the matter with senior district officers and requested the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to clear the Rajouri–Budhal road on a war-footing basis to restore normalcy at the earliest.