JAMMU: The Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH-44) was closed for traffic Thursday after a landslide in Ramban district, leaving over 300 vehicles stranded. Several stretches of the 290km-long national highway experienced fresh snowfall and rain, adding to commuters’ woes. Meanwhile, the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi received the season’s first snow.
Officials said a stretch of the highway was damaged near Sherbibi area.Till 6.30pm, the NH was still blocked at Kishtwari Pather and Sherbibi. Intermittent showers, snowfall, mudslides and shooting stones at many places along the NH between Ramsoo and Banihal impeded restoration work. Commuters were advised to avoid the highway — the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country — till the weather conditions improved and the road was cleared.
Mughal Road is already closed due to snow accumulation, traffic authorities said.
Meanwhile, the upper reaches of Jammu Division received snow while rains lashed the plains. Helicopter services to Vaishno Devi Bhawan, nestled in Trikuta Hills of Reasi district, were affected.
Kishtwar deputy commissioner Dr Devansh Yadav toured different areas in the town to inspect ongoing snow-clearance work and assess arrangements to be put in place to address challenges arising from the prevailing weather conditions. The DC interacted with residents and advised them to avoid unnecessary travel, especially on Kishtwar-Chatroo-Sinthan-Anantnag and Kishtwar-Paddar roads; stay away from rivers and nullahs, and exercise caution in avalanche-prone areas.
Officials said a stretch of the highway was damaged near Sherbibi area.Till 6.30pm, the NH was still blocked at Kishtwari Pather and Sherbibi. Intermittent showers, snowfall, mudslides and shooting stones at many places along the NH between Ramsoo and Banihal impeded restoration work. Commuters were advised to avoid the highway — the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country — till the weather conditions improved and the road was cleared.
Mughal Road is already closed due to snow accumulation, traffic authorities said.
Meanwhile, the upper reaches of Jammu Division received snow while rains lashed the plains. Helicopter services to Vaishno Devi Bhawan, nestled in Trikuta Hills of Reasi district, were affected.
Kishtwar deputy commissioner Dr Devansh Yadav toured different areas in the town to inspect ongoing snow-clearance work and assess arrangements to be put in place to address challenges arising from the prevailing weather conditions. The DC interacted with residents and advised them to avoid unnecessary travel, especially on Kishtwar-Chatroo-Sinthan-Anantnag and Kishtwar-Paddar roads; stay away from rivers and nullahs, and exercise caution in avalanche-prone areas.
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