E-Paper
J&K highway closed due to fresh landslides
The 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway continued to remain closed for the second consecutive day on Tuesday due to fresh landslides, reports HT Correspondent.
With incessant rains, fresh landslides and shooting stones triggering at separate points, the 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway continued to remain closed for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.
One feet snowfall was also marked at Jawahar Tunnel at Banihal, 170 kms from Jammu.
Meanwhile, Pir Panjal Range on Tuesday witnessed heavy snowfall along with the parts of upper reaches of Doda district while Jammu region received heavy rains.
Jammu recorded a rainfall of 3.2 mm, Katra, the base camp of
Vaishno Devi pilgrims, 7.9 mm rainfall and Bhaderwah 10 mm, Rajouri
and Poonch had 2 mm rainfall respectively.
Following heavy downpour and reports of road blockades due to fresh landslides, at least 200 vehicles including heavy and light motor vehicles remained stranded at different stretches on the only national highway that connects Kashmir valley with rest of the country.
However, no passenger vehicle has got stranded on the national highway.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Udhampur-Doda Range, Lalit Indu Mohanty told Hindustan Times that "the major road blockades have been reported at five different stretches, however, personnel of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have been working to clear the highway to reopen it for vehicular traffic."
Landslide was triggered by heavy rains on the highway in Rattanpass area
in Banihal Tehsil of Doda on Monday.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Ramban, Basant Rath detailed that "Fresh
landslides triggered at Panthial, Hingni, Makkarkot, Rattanpass and Ramsoo following which vehicular movement was suspended and men and machinery started the task of road clearance. Though heavy rains are making it difficult, but the work of road clearance was on."
However, no loss of life has been reported so far, following triggering of shooting stones and landslides.
