Rajouri, August 8: sick teenage girl from remote Methyani village in Rajouri died while being taken to Government Medical College (GMC), Rajouri, after the vehicle carrying her remained stuck for nearly three hours in deep mud caused by a landslide at Chak Methyani following heavy rains. The girl, who had reportedly been suffering from an illness for nearly a month and had earlier received treatment at GMC Hospital Jammu, was being taken to Rajouri after her condition deteriorated. Despite hectic efforts by local volunteers to pull the vehicle out, the prolonged delay caused by the damaged road left the family struggling to reach the hospital, and the girl died while en route. The incident has triggered widespread anger among locals, who accused authorities of negligence over the poor condition of the Chak Methyani-Panglar-Kotecharwal road, a vital link connecting several remote villages in the area. The road had reportedly been damaged by a mudslide around two weeks ago and remained in extremely poor condition, with landslides, deep ditches and mud making it unfit for vehicular movement. The controversy intensified after the PMGSY authorities reportedly informed the Rajouri administration through an official WhatsApp group that the road had been restored and was trafficable. However, a subsequent inspection by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Kotranka, found that the road remained severely damaged and residents of Narla Bamble, Kotecharwal and Panglar continued to face serious difficulties in transporting patients, food grains and fertilisers. Taking serious note of the ADC’s findings, Rajouri District Development Commissioner Abhishek Sharma ordered the immediate suspension of the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), PMGSY Sub-Division Kalakote, who was in charge of the road project, pending an inquiry. The DDC also sought an explanation from the Executive Engineer, PMGSY Division Rajouri, over the alleged misreporting of the road’s condition and failure to ensure timely restoration, while withholding his salary pending further orders. The Additional District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, has been directed to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident and submit a comprehensive report within seven days. The tragic death has raised fresh concerns over Rajouri road connectivity, PMGSY negligence, landslide-hit roads, emergency healthcare access and poor rural infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly during heavy rains and adverse weather conditions.
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