SRINAGAR:The Srinagar-Jammu highway witnessed landslides at different places forcing authorities to shut it which resulted in intense suffering for those on way to Kashmir.
The valley remained cut off from the rest of the world for the second day on Friday following closure of the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu highway due to landslides.
Over 2500 of Kashmir bound vehicles, including those carrying passengers, and trucks loaded with essentials are stranded on the highway since yesterday.
Meanwhile, over Jammu bound 500 empty trucks and loaded with fruits are also stranded on this side of the Jawahar tunnel.
The highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country remained closed for the second day today due to landslides at Digdol and Mehar Nallah, where a large portion of the road was badly affected, a traffic police official said.
He said the highway was closed yesterday following huge landslides at Digdol and Mehar Nallah in Ramban area.
However, hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers and trucks loaded with essentials and oil tankers, which had left Jammu in the morning for Kashmir, had to be stopped at several places on other side of Ramban.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) pressed into service six sophisticated machines and men to put through the highway, he said adding that it was expected that BRO will be able to clear the landslides and traffic on the highway will be resumed by the time vehicles reach affected area.
A number of passenger vehicles could cross the affected area after BRO made alternative temporary road. However, fresh landslides at Digdol last evening again disrupted traffic.
From last two days, thousand of vehicles and passengers are stranded on the highway road due to the unprecedented land sliding at different areas there.
According to the Inspector General of Police for Traffic, Shafqat Watali, there are more than 400 passenger vehicles and above 2500 vehicles goods carrying vehicles stranded on the highway.
He said that all the passenger vehicles have been moved towards safer places and all possible help is being provided to them.
However, those on way to Srinagar accused authorities of allowing traffic from Srinagar to move towards Jammu. We spent night in our car without having anything to eat, a passenger said. It were local Kashmiri drivers and conductors who managed traffic on Friday morning and we could travel some kilometres.
Meanwhile, the weather department has forecasted more rain and snowfall in valley in upcoming next days, which may again result further closure of road.
Jammu and Kashmir will embrace another spell of rains and snowfall within next 24hours, Meteorological department forecasts high snowfall in upper reaches in Kashmir.
More rains and snow in next 24 hours, Metrological department said that, there are chances of more rainfall in Jammu and snowfall in Kashmir.
“We are expecting more snow in higher reaches and rains in plains of Kashmir and Jammu region including Chenab valley up to Saturday, a weather official told KNS. “Jammu and Chenab valley may receive good spell of rainfall.
Mercury level has raise above the freezing point in Kashmir and gives respite to people from bone chilling cold.
Avalanche Warning Issued For Kashmir, Kargil
Divisional Administration Kashmir Friday issued a medium danger avalanche warning for next 24-hours for hilly and avalanche prone areas of Kashmir Valley and Kargil district.
Medium danger avalanche warning valid for next 24-hours from February 03 to February 04, 2017 (1700 hrs) exists for avalanche prone slopes in Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Budgam, Anantnag and Kargil districts of Kashmir Division, a statement of the Divisional Administration said.
Accordingly, Deputy Commissioners of Kashmir Division including Kargil have been asked to take precautionary measures in their respective districts and advise people not to venture in avalanche prone areas during the aforementioned period and to keep clearing snow depositions from roof tops of their houses and bunkers to avoid damages.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
