Jammu-Srinagar Highway closed for 2nd day due to fresh landslides

Jammu, February 21

The Jammu-Srinagar Highway was closed for the second consecutive day on Thursday amid five fresh landslides triggered by heavy rain and snow in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Over 600 vehicles are stranded at several places on the highway in Ramban, Udhampur and Jammu districts.

There were fresh landslides triggered by rain, which struck the strategic 270-km highway overnight at Khuni Nallah, Panthiyal, Digdole, Battery Cheshma and Maroog, blocking the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, the officials said.           

There was also fresh snow in Jawahar Tunnel area, they said. Officials said road clearance operation was immediately launched but the rain is making the task of clearance difficult.

No traffic has been allowed to move from Nagrota area of Jammu towards the Kashmir Valley in view of the closure of the highway, they said.

The lurking threat of more landslides has created fear among the hundreds of passengers travelling on the highway these days.

Banihal town also experienced light snowfall, while heavy rain lashed other parts of the highway during the night, the officials said.

The Moghal road connecting Kashmir Valley’s Shopian district with Jammu region’s Poonch district is closed for past one month due to heavy snow.

In Jammu city, there has been heavy rain since yesterday, while mountainous areas of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Kathua, Poonch and Reasi districts experienced light snowfall. PTI