Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, connecting Kashmir valley to the outside world, remained closed for traffic for the second consecutive day following landslides at Panthal.
“The highway is closed for traffic. There have been landslides at Panthal,” an official of the traffic control room said in Srinagar, adding it was unclear when the road would be open for traffic.
The highway was closed for traffic as a portion of the road was washed away at Kunfur nallah in Chanderkote area near Jammu due to flashfloods triggered by heavy rains yesterday in the State.
Fresh snowfall around Jawahar tunnel and landslides at Digdole and Panthal had resulted in closure of the 294-km Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
The authorities did not allow movement of traffic from both the capital cities today, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic, National Highway, Kifayat Haider told PTI in Jammu, adding around 30-40 vehicles were stranded at different places on the highway.
The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road was also blocked for traffic due to landslide at Jathi and Drabshalla area near Jammu for the second day today, he said.
Border Roads Organisation personnel are working to clear the landslide and repair the road washed away by flashfloods, he said.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Valley was cut-off from the rest of the world yesterday after the air-link also remained closed as flights scheduled to the Srinagar Airport were cancelled.
The airport officials in Srinagar today said they are waiting for the weather to clear. So far, no flights had landed at Srinagar airport.
Following heavy snowfall in remote areas and upper reaches of Kashmir, authorities had also issued a medium danger avalanche warning in many parts of the Valley.
The closure of the highway has left over 1500 vehicles stranded at various places in Udhampur, Nagrota, Chenani, Kud, Patnitop, Ramban and Banihal, traffic police officials said.
There was also heavy snowfall in Patnitop, Jawah tunnels areas besides various mountainous places, they said, adding heavy and incessant rains affected normal life especially in upper reaches of Banihal and Sinibitti areas.
Traffic on the highway is running one way at seven places, an army spokesman said.
The Army came to the aid of stranded passengers at Digdaul and Painthal, and in higher reaches it rescued herdsmen who were cut off due to incessant rain and snow.
The force also plans to set up medical and veterinary camps in Khari, Mundakwas and Sinibitti areas in the coming week.
