Srinagar, Sep 09 (KNO): In a heartwarming display of community spirit, the Vessu Welfare Committee in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district has stepped up to support commuters and truck drivers stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which has remained closed due to adverse weather and frequent landslides.
The highway—considered the lifeline of Jammu and Kashmir—has been shut for several days, leaving hundreds of drivers marooned without access to food, water, or shelter.
Responding to this humanitarian crisis, the Vessu Welfare Committee launched a relief initiative to provide freshly cooked meals, drinking water, and other essentials to those in need.
Sanjay Raina, one of the active members of the committee, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the initiative evolved from distributing dry ration packets to cooking hot meals. “At first, we handed out dry food items like rice and pulses. But soon, we realised most of the drivers had no means to cook them. They were exhausted, hungry, and helpless. That’s when we decided to prepare fresh roti, vegetables, and other simple meals at our Pandit Colony kitchen in Vessu. Now, we distribute food twice daily—morning and evening,” he said.
To ensure no one goes unnoticed, the committee has set up a roadside tent equipped with a public address system. Volunteers announce meal distribution timings and call stranded commuters to collect food packets in an organised manner.
The committee said the initiative is purely humanitarian. “We are not looking at religion, caste, or background. Hunger has no boundaries, and humanity must come first,” Raina added.
For drivers stuck for days, the effort has been nothing short of a lifeline. Many expressed gratitude, calling the gesture a rare moment of relief amid hardship.
“We had no food for two days and were surviving on water. These people appeared like angels. Their help gave us the strength to wait until the road opens,” said Ramesh Kumar, a truck driver from Jammu.
The committee has appealed to other NGOs, religious groups, and community organisations to come forward and contribute during such emergencies.
“This highway connects the valley to the rest of the country. The drivers who keep it alive often face the harshest conditions. It is our moral duty to support them when they are stranded,” another volunteer said.
With no clarity yet on when the highway will be fully restored, the Vessu Welfare Committee has vowed to continue the initiative until normal traffic resumes. Their sustained efforts reflect not just a sense of duty but a message of unity and compassion during testing times—(KNO)
