Jammu-Pathankot highway blocked, Kathua residents raise slogans against Dy CM Nirmal Singh

The residents of Rajbagh in Kathua district came out of their homes and blocked the highway, raising slogans against the state government and deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh, who holds the power portfolio.

The hassled residents of Kathua area blocked Jammu-Pathankot national highway for around three hours on Monday, over the erratic power and water supply by the state government.

Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh. (HT Photo)

The residents of Rajbagh in Kathua district came out of their homes and blocked the highway, raising slogans against the state government and deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh, who holds the power portfolio. The blockade caused jam on the highway, leading to long queues of vehicles stranded for hours on both sides of the strategic highway.

The residents alleged that for the past few months, the area is getting irregular power supply, with long and unscheduled power cuts. The locals pointed out that this is also affecting the supply of drinking water in Kathua and its adjoining areas.

Locals castigated officers of both the water and electricity departments and the local representatives for failing to ensure regular supplies, despite repeated pleas. “We demand permanent solution to the problem,” they said.

However, the ‘dharna’ was lifted after the intervention of police and administration, who assured that their grievances will be taken up with the departments concerned for early redressal.