Jammu, February 18
Around 4000 passengers were stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar highway that got blocked last evening when a 30-metre stretch was washed away near Ramsoo due to snowfall and heavy rainfall. Around 1,500 vehicles were stranded on the highway.
Meanwhile, two pilgrims died due to cold while trekking to the Vaishnodevi shrine today. They have been identified as Sat Pal of Delhi and Jaideep Sharma of Gujarat. They died near ‘Sanjichhat’.
Vehicular traffic remained suspended on the Jammu-Srinagar highway today as personnel of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) were rebuilding the damaged stretch.
Landslides have been reported at the Nashri Nullah on the highway. About 4 feet of snow has accumulated around Patnitop and also on both sides of the Jawahar tunnel.
Six personnel of the BRO had a narrow escape as two avalanches hit the Shaitani Nullah where they were removing debris from road.
The 300-kms Jammu-Srinagar highway will remain closed for vehicular traffic tomorrow because of snow and landslides.
According to the police headquarters, “no traffic will be allowed on either side of the highway, especially from Udhampur to Qazigund. Road restoration work will be carried and stranded vehicles will be cleared subject to fair weather and good road conditions.”
SRINAGAR:
Around 1,000 load carriers were held up at Udhampur and nearly 80 passenger buses and light motor vehicles were stranded near Ramban, the traffic authorities said, adding that the local administration was taking care to provide rations and other facilities to stranded passengers.
Meanwhile, Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir valley reeled under cold wave for the third successive day today.
Life in the city and elsewhere was hit by
continuous snowfall since yesterday. Snowfall equivalent to 10.2 mm of rain was recorded till 1130 hrs in Srinagar, weather office said and forecast more snow and rains for the day.
SHIMLA: The entire Shimla region was lashed by icy cold wind on Friday creating arctic conditions in the area while tourists resorts Kufri, Narkanda and higher reaches experienced light snowfall.
Normal life in the higher hills and tribal areas of the state was again disrupted following heavy snowfall.
