Heavy rain, snowfall bring normal life to standstill in Jammu region

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 13

Incessant rain today brought normal life to a grinding halt across the Jammu region for the second day with the Jammu-Srinagar highway and other major road links remaining closed for traffic due to landslides triggered by snowfall.

Cold wave also tightened its grip in the region with the night temperature in several parts plummeting to almost sub-zero, forcing people to stay indoors.

According to sources, nearly 600 passengers remained stranded in Banihal tehsil and Ramban district after vehicular traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway was stopped as precautionary measures. However, air traffic remained normal at the Jammu airport, though all the 12 flights to and fro from Jammu to Srinagar were cancelled due to bad weather in Srinagar.

Sources said about 300 passengers travelling in 80 vehicles were stopped in the Banihal area of Ramban district when they were heading towards Srinagar from Jammu. Similarly, 25 Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) were stopped in Ramban.

“The stranded passengers have been accommodated in shelters established by the government at Gunadalkot in Banihal and Ramban. Some of the stranded passengers have been shifted to a building near the Banihal railway station,” the sources said.

Reports from Kathua said the Bani-Basohli road was blocked due to landslides triggered by heavy snowfall in entire Bani subdivision and Bani town. The Bani town also plunged into darkness due to power failure.

In Reasi district, the holy cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi, nestled in the Trikuta hills, experienced the season’s first snowfall. The chopper service to the shrine also remained suspended for the second consecutive day due to inclement weather and poor visibility.

Meanwhile, vehicular traffic on the Doda-Kishtwar road was stopped after landslide in some areas. The Bhaderwah-Doda road remained blocked for hours.

The alternate road link to the Kashmir valley — the Mughal road — also remained closed for the traffic for the third consecutive day today in view of slippery road conditions.