Snowfall, landslides shut Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, over 300 vehicles stranded
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed for traffic on Tuesday following snowfall in Jawahar Tunnel area and multiple landslides between Banihal and Chanderkote, officials said. Over 300 vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the highway due to the closure. "The Jawahar Tunnel, the gateway to Kashmir, experienced snowfall this morning following which traffic was suspended between Banihal and Qazigund townships," officials said.
Incessant rains lashed most parts of the highway: Officials
Incessant rains lashed most parts of the highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, for the third day on Tuesday, triggering landslides, and shooting stones from hillocks overlooking the highway at nearly a dozen places between Banihal and Chanderkote.
Majority of stranded vehicles in Ramban were cleared last night
Deputy Superintendent of Police Traffic (National Highway Ramban), Parul Bhardwaj said, "A few hundred vehicles were stranded on the highway between Nashri and Chanderkote since Monday night." "Despite incessant rains and the lurking threat of shooting stones, the men and machinery kept the highway open and the majority of the stranded vehicles in Ramban were cleared last night itself," he told PTI.
Once weather improves, highway will be restored at the earliest
He said a major landslide had struck the highway overnight at Cafeteria Morh, while the road was also closed by debris at many places including Maroog, Monkey Morh, Panthiyal, Digdole, Sherbibi, Shabinbas. "Once the weather improves, all-out efforts would be made to ensure early restoration of the highway," the officer said.
Several high-altitude areas received snowfall
Officials said reports of snowfall were received from high-altitude areas including Peer Ki Gali along Mughal Road connecting the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region with South Kashmir's Shopian. "The Mughal road was closed for traffic in December and is expected to be thrown open on completion of snow clearance operation in the first or second week of April," they said.
Rains lashed Jammu city resulting in drop in minimum temperature
Snowfall was also recorded in the upper reaches of Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar districts, while Jammu city was lashed by overnight rains, resulting in a drop in the temperature. "The minimum temperature in Jammu city settled at 14.9 degree Celsius against the 16.2 degree Celsius the previous night," a spokesman of the Meteorological department said.
