Jammu-Srinagar highway partially reopens to traffic

After remaining closed on Tuesday, the 300-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the only surface link between the Valley and the rest of the country, was partially opened on Wednesday.

Jammu: After remaining closed on Tuesday, the 300-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the only surface link between the Valley and the rest of the country, was partially opened on Wednesday.

The highway was closed on Tuesday due to heavy rain, triggering landslides at number of places, especially at Panthal, Gungroo.

Senior superintendent of police, national highway, Sanjay Kotwal, informed, “The highway was closed on Tuesday around 4 pm due to huge landslides between Ramban and Banihal section of the highway at Panthal and Gungroo. We pressed men and machinery of the Border Roads Organisation to carry out the restoration work, which continued throughout the night. Today around 5.50 pm, the vehicular movement on the highway was restored.”

“No fresh movement of vehicles either from Jammu or Srinagar was allowed today. Only few heavy vehicles bound for Srinagar carrying essential commodities were allowed in the morning from Jammu. We have started clearing the 600-odd vehicles stranded since Tuesday evening at different locations on the highway. We are hopeful to clear all the passenger vehicles by late hours,” said Kotwal.

Whether fresh vehicular movement will be allowed on Thursday, the SSP said, “The vehicular movement from both Jammu and Srinagar will commence as per routine tomorrow.”

Also, the road link connecting Batote, Doda and Kishtwar was restored around 3pm on Wednesday after the landslides at Kora Pani and Raggi Nullah were cleared.

Meanwhile, the meteorological department has forecast clear skies on Thursday over the Jammu region.

Army rescues 2 men trapped in flash floods

Army rescued two civilians trapped in the Ujh river near Rampur in Kathua on Wednesday morning.

As per the reports, the two civilians-Manzoor Hussain and Anil Kumar, were on their way to their native village on September 22, when they were trapped on an island, as the water level of the river rose suddenly, caused by incessant rains.

The two men were trapped for almost 16 hours, fighting for survival, before the helicopters could evacuate them in a rescue mission by Yol-based Rising Star Corps.

The Army Aviation helicopters took off from the aviation base at Pathankot on Wednesday morning despite inclement weather and evacuated them.

Jammu, Jammu-Srinagar national highway, Panthal, news, hindustantimes