Shimla-Manali and Shimla-Kalka highways opened for vehicles

Tribune News Service

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Shimla, January 8

The national highway from Shimla to Manali and Shimla to Kalka opened for vehicular traffic on Sunday. About 70 roads were opened for vehicles in the state.

Popular tourist places in the state, including Kufri in the suburbs of Shimla and Dalhousie, were also opened for vehicles.

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Meanwhile, the Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for vehicular traffic for the third consecutive day today due to heavy rains and snowfall on Friday.

“The 300-km long highway is closed for vehicular traffic since Friday following snowfall and heavy rains at various places en route,” a traffic police officer said.

No vehicle was allowed to move on the highway towards the Kashmir Valley from Nagrota check post as a precautionary measure, he said.

The work to restore traffic on the highway was going on in full swing. Men and machinery of the Border Road Organisation (BRO) were cleaning the debris, he said.

Heavy snowfall was witnessed on Friday at Jawahir tunnel, Banihal and Patnitop areas along the highway and the hills of Bhaderwah, Kathua, Kishtwar and Ramban.

Meanwhile, power supply was hit in Kasauli, Dagshai and Solan since 12 pm last night as the 33 KV sub-station developed a major fault after a tree fell on the power lines near Barog. Basic amenities, including water supply, were also affected.

A medium danger avalanche warning was also issued today for some avalanche-prone districts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) issued the warning that would be valid for the next 24 hours starting at 5 pm today.

A SASE advisory said the medium danger warning is in place for avalanche prone areas in Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Doda, Poonch and Riyasi of Jammu and Kashmir.

Medium-danger avalanche warning for the same period has also been issued for areas in Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh.

“People are advised not to venture in avalanche prone areas during the warning period,” it said.

SASE said snowfall had occurred at many places in J&K and HP since yesterday.

Banihal Top (17 cm), Haddan Taj (12 cm), Neelam (10 cm), Drass (2 cm), Kanzalwan (15 cm) in J&K and Bahang (43 cm), Solang Nala (50 cm), Dhundi (58 cm) and Patsio (5 cm) in HP had received fresh snowfall. — Agencies