STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for traffic for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday even as operations to clear the debris from landslides were underway for the second day.
“The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which was closed on Thursday due to massive landslides triggered by heavy rains at several places along the highway, continues to remain closed for the fourth day today,” SSP Traffic, National Highway, Sanjay Kotwal said.
He said several trucks and passenger vehicles, were stranded at different places on the 300-km long highway.
With improvement in the weather, the operation to clear debris has started, Kotwal said, adding, “a large stretch of the road between Ramban and Panthal has started caving in, creating more problems.” “No new vehicles would be allowed to ply on the highway until the entire stretch has been cleared and becomes safe for traffic,” he said.
The Batote-Doda National Highway also continues to remain closed for vehicular traffic for the fourth day today, Kotwal said.
Meanwhile, an avalanche warning was today issued for higher areas of Jammu and Kashmir, advising people not to venture in these areas over the next 48 hours.
An advisory was issued by Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), which comes under the Ministry of Defence, in Chandigarh.
‘Medium danger’ avalanche warning exists for avalanche prone areas above 3,000 metres altitude of Kupwara, Baramula, Bandipur, Kargil and Gandarbal districts of Jammu and Kashmir, the advisory said.
Pharkian and Kanzalwan areas of Jammu and Kashmir received fresh snowfall of 18 cm and 8 cm, respectively during last 24 hours.
In Himachal Pradesh, Dhundi and Patsio experienced fresh snowfall of 13 cm and 3 cm, respectively, it said.
