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7,000 stranded as snow blocks Jammu-Srinagar highway Jammu, January 17 The 300-km highway was buried under 2.5 feet of snow on both sides of Jawahar Tunnel. Fresh landslides near Ramban, Ramsu and Kalam Morh have hampered the efforts of the Border Roads Organisation to reopen roads. The Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, today cancelled his flight to Doda due to bad weather. The traffic has also been disrupted on other roads, including the Jammu-Rajouri highway. Light to moderate snowfall was reported from Trikuta Hills, the holy abode of Mata Vaishno Devi, and high peaks in Doda, Udhampur and Poonch districts. Many natural lakes, including the famous Kailash lake atop Kailash Hills in Doda district, have frozen. SRINAGAR: The valley was cut off by road from the rest of the country for the third consecutive day on Tuesday. Rain and snowfall affected life, forcing people to remain indoors in various parts of Anantnag and Pulwama, Srinagar and Budgam districts. Moderate to heavy snowfall was reported from the upper reaches across the valley. More than two feet of snow was reported from Baramula. The tourist spot of Gulmarg was also under a heavy spell of snow in the past three days. Only three flights, including one carrying 214 Haj pilgrims from Jeddah, landed here on Tuesday. In Ladakh, more than two feet of snow has accumulated at Khardongla and six inches at Chandgla. SHIMLA: Normal life in the tribal area of Kinnaur and Spiti has been affected as there was no power supply for the past 48 hours. According to reports, both power and water supply have been affected. The district administration has issued a general alert, advising people to stay indoors for fear of avalanches. The Hindustan-Tibet highway has been closed at Wangtoo. All Rampur-bound traffic has been diverted via Basantpur due to heavy snow at Narkanda. Traffic on the Shimla-Rohru road remained suspended for the third day on Tuesday. The Kulu-Rohtang road remained closed as vehicles were plying only till Patlikuhl, 20 km from Kulu. However, traffic was plying on the left bank of the Beas. Intermittent spells of snowfall were still continuing in Manali, Narkanda, Solang Nullah, Patsio and Dhundi, besides the entire tribal area. The minimum temperature in Shimla was recorded at 4.3 degrees Celsius, which was higher than normal at this time of the year. The maximum temperature here was 6.1. Over 37mm of rainfall was recorded during the past 24 hours. There has been a slight increase in the minimum temperature. The minimum temperature at Sundernagar was 8.6 degrees Celsius; 5 at Bhuntar; 7.4 at Palampur; and 7.5 at Dharamsala. The temperature was minus 5 degrees Celsius at Bhang; minus 1 at Solang; and minus 6 at Patsio. The highest rainfall of 110mm was recorded at Nagrota Suriyan; 108mm at Guler; and 75mm at Nadaun. During the past 24 hours, 93cm of snow was recorded at Dhundi in Kulu district; 20cm at Patsio; 32cm at Solang; and 14 cm at Bhang in Manali. PALAMPUR: Upper areas of Palampur like Kandi, Jhakhni, Billing and Rajgundha had first snow of this season on Monday night. Traffic to Kothikohar and Lohardi remained suspended for the third day on Tuesday following one to two feet of snow on the road beyond Barot. Billing also remained cut off from the rest of country for the second day on Tuesday. Meanwhile, shortage of LPG, kerosene and charcoal has further multiplied the problems of residents here.  |
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