Jammu, January 23
The Jammu-Srinagar national highway, surface link between Kashmir valley and rest of the country, was today reopened for vehicular traffic following clearing of blockades caused by heavy snowfall during the last two days.
All blockades caused by snow and landslides had been cleared on the 300-km highway and vehicular traffic resumed around 10.30 am, Superintendent of Police (Traffic, National Highway) Amjid Parvez Mirza said.
Most vehicles would be allowed from Srinagar to Jammu today, he said. “We have also allowed, since the morning, movement of some stranded vehicles towards and Srinagar and Jammu sides to make the highway totally clear,” he said.
Men and machines of the Border Road Organisation (BRO) were working round the clock to ensure that the highway was open for two-way traffic.
Authorities have speeded up clearing of snow on the inter-district roads in Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri and Poonch districts.
The Jammu-Doda and the Rajouri-Poonch roads were still closed for traffic due to accumulation of snow.
SHIMLA: Normal life remained paralysed in several parts of the state for the second day today even as the weather cleared this morning after more than two days of incessant snow and rain.
Heavy snow overnight blocked all major roads as a result of which the entire Kinnaur district, upper areas of Shimla and parts of Kulu and Mandi district were cut off from the rest of the state.
Dhundi in Lahaul-Spiti recorded 163 cm of snow over the past two days, followed by Solang Nullah (101 cm) and Bahang in Manali (77 cm). Narkanda and Kharapthar also had 70 cm of snow.
Taps went dry in snowbound areas as water in pipelines froze in sub-zero temperatures. To cap it all, the residents had to cope with erratic power supply. The people had to go without daily necessities like milk, bread and newspapers in most areas. In some areas these commodities were received late in the day.
The people woke up to a sunny day but there was no respite from cold as dark clouds covered the sky as the day progressed.
The fruit research station at Mashobra, near here, recorded a minimum of minus 4.2°C and a maximum of 5.5°C.
While traffic was restored on the Shimla-Kalka and the Shimla-Bilaspur highways by afternoon, the Chamba-Pathankot road was likely to be cleared by the evening.
However, the main hill resorts
including Manali, Dalhousie and Kufri remained cut off. The state road transport corporation plied some buses to Rohru via the Paonta-Vikasnagar route. The Rampur-bound buses were diverted via the Dhami route.
No vehicles plied on the Hindustan-Tibet road beyond Dhalli. Vehicles plied on the Kulu- Manali national highway only up to Rangri. While Manali and surrounding areas had a normal snowfall, snowstorm and avalanche alert repeatedly aired by satellite TV channels scared away the tourists, affecting the business of hoteliers and others connected with tourist trade who have been waiting for snow to make a fast buck during the otherwise lean winter months.
CHANDIGARH:
Almost entire north India continued to reel under biting cold. The night temperatures plummeted by several degrees after the region was lashed by rain and snow for two consecutive days.
The low at Chandigarh dropped three degrees below normal at 4.6°C. The city recorded a rainfall of 17.2 mm until 8.30 this morning. A bright sunshine towards the afternoon provided some respite to the people from the chilly conditions.
