J&K highway closes for 5 hours, later reopens

Vehicular traffic halts for five hours due to landslides at Panthiyal area in Doda district.

Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed for vehicular traffic for five hours due to landslides at Panthiyal area in Doda district as heavy snowfall and rains continue to lash the state for the thrid consecutive day on Monday, official sources said.

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The highway was later reopened at 1000 hrs and one-way traffic allowed from Srinagar to Jammu, they said.

Heavy rains are continuing in Ramban, Banihal, Batatoe, and Udhampur areas of the state while, the Pirpanchal ranges, Trikuta hills, Baravgati, Hatha top, Sansar and Shivalik hills received heavy snowfall during the night. Slight snowfall was experienced in Bhimbergali areas of Poonch district, they said.

Rainfall of 41 mm was recorded in Jammu as severe cold conditions prevailed in the region, Met department officials said, adding rain would continue during next 24 hours.

Mercury dipped by 7 degrees as 15.4 was recorded as the maximum and 9.6 degrees as the minimum temperature, they said.