Kishtwar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], April 21 (ANI): Indian Army on Thursday rescued 16 people who were stranded amid heavy snowfall at Sinthan Pass of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu Feb 26 PTI The newly-appointed Managing Director of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited NHIDCL Chanchal Kumar reviewed ongoing projects in Jammu and Kashmir and exhorted the contractors to complete their projects within the stipulated timelines Kumar reviewed the projects during his three-day tour to the Union Territory during which he also called on Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and apprised him of the status of various ongoing projects and upcoming projects being taken up by NHIDCL an official spokesman said NHIDCL is mainly involved in upgradation of NH-244 Jammu-Doda-Kishtwar-Anantnag highway an alternate connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar and four-laning of Jammu-Akhnoor road There are 12 ongoing projects in Jammu region costing around Rs 5200 crore while there are five ongoing projects in Kashmir region worth Rs 10300 Besides strategic upcoming projects in JK including Jammu Akhnoor Package 1 Jammu Akhnoor Package3 B Sudhmahadev Dranga Tunnel and SinghporaVailoo Tunnel under Sinthan Pass are likely to be taken up by NHIDCL soon the spokesman said He said Kumar reviewed the ongoing works in Jammu region during a meeting with senior officials of NHIDCL and general managers concerned The Managing Director exhorted upon the contractors to complete their projects within the stipulated timelines assuring that NHIDCL will provide every support to facilitate smooth execution of highway construction works He also directed them to maintain all quality parameters as per guidelines besides taking proper road safety measures during construction Kumar however cautioned the contractors of strict action as per contract agreement if they fail to achieve set targets He inspected the Chenani-Sudhmahadev road being constructed by NHIDCL He also inspected maintenance work on NH-244 construction of 157 km long Khellani tunnel and construction of NH-244 from Khellani to Thatri chowk the spokesman said PTI TAS MR MR