Avalanche hits Jawahar tunnel; Jammu-Srinagar highway closed

Tribune News Service 
Jammu, January 22

The Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed on Tuesday following landslides and snow and reports of an avalanche hitting the highway in the Jawahar Tunnel area. A team has been rushed to take stock.

Traffic department officials said landslides had hit the strategic highway at some places in the Ramban district, including Digdol, Panthal, Magarkote and Khoni Nullah.

“There has been fresh snow in Bannihal sector. Incessant rains are continuing in other parts of the highway. This is the second consecutive day of the highway remaining closed.

“No vehicular movement will be allowed on the highway on Tuesday. Landslide clearance will be started only after the weather improves,” a traffic official said.

The highway is the lifeline of the landlocked Kashmir Valley as all essential supplies are routed into the valley through this road.

Avalanche hits dam site in Kishtwar 

Meanwhile in Doda, a massive avalanche hit the dam site in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. As per reports, the avalanche occurred near Pangraie area at Dacchan area in Kishtwar district on Monday evening and it damaged the link road connectivity.

Kishtwar DC Angrez Singh Rana said, "A massive snow avalanche has triggered around 35 km from Kishtwar last evening, but no human loss has been reported."

With IANS inputs