Traffic suspended on Jammu-Srinagar NH, Mughal Road following landslides
STATE TIMES NEWS
Banihal/Jammu: Traffic movement was temporarily suspended on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway and the Mughal Road here on Saturday following multiple landslides triggered by heavy overnight rainfall, officials said.
Train service between Banihal and Qazigund stations has also been suspended for the day, they said.
Several landslides struck the national highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, at Mehar, Cafeteria Morh, Keela Morh, Sita Ram Passi and Panthiyal in Ramban, the officials said.
Water level rising fast in Jhelum, tributaries due to continued rain
Srinagar: The water level in the Jhelum river and its tributaries has risen rapidly over a few hours due to heavy rainfall at many places in Kashmir, even as authorities have advised the people living near the embankments of water bodies to remain alert and avoid venturing near the water.
The water in some of the water bodies is flowing close to the flood-alert level at many places, officials said.
An official of the Irrigation and Flood Control (IFC) department on Saturday said the valley received a considerable amount of rainfall during the night and the “water level (discharge) in the tributaries or nallahs of the Jhelum basin is expected to rise in the coming hours”.
He added that the water level in the Jhelum is also on the rise and it is being monitored.
Those residing close to these tributaries or nallahs have been advised to remain alert and vigilant, the official said.
“People should avoid venturing near them,” he added.
The water level is expected to experience a rising trend until Sunday, he said.
Heavy to very heavy rain continued in many parts of Kashmir for the second day on Saturday. Some places witnessed a record rainfall over a 24-hour period in the month of July. A few areas in the higher reaches, including near the Amarnath cave shrine, experienced snowfall.
The meteorological department said intermittent light to moderate rain is likely to continue at most places in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, with the possibility of heavy to very heavy showers at isolated places of the Jammu division.
The MeT office has asked those living in the lower catchment areas to remain alert as there is a possibility of flash floods, landslides or mudslides.
Temporary waterlogging and minor floods in low-lying areas may also be witnessed, it said. The weather system can lead to a temporary disruption of surface transportation over the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, Mughal Road, the Srinagar-Leh highway and other major hilly roads, the officials said.
Light snowfall at a few places in the higher reaches of the Kashmir division may also occur, they added. The administration in several districts has issued advisories to people, asking them to remain cautious, and set up control rooms for any eventuality.
They said a portion of the road leading to the Panthiyal tunnel was washed away.
A traffic department official said work was underway to clear the road and repair the affected sections despite the incessant rains. “People are advised not to travel on the highway till the restoration work is completed,” he added.
Mughal Road, an alternative link connecting the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri with the Shopian district of south Kashmir, also witnessed several landslides near Rata Chambh in Poonch district.
Road clearance agencies are on the job to ensure early restoration of traffic, the officials said. They said the waterlogging of the railway tracks near Hillar forced the suspension of the rail service between Banihal and Qazigund for the day.
The weatherman has predicted widespread moderate to heavy rains with thundershowers under the influence of monsoon winds and western disturbances across Jammu and Kashmir till Sunday.
