Jammu-Srinagar highway closed after snowfall, landslides

Jammu, December 12

The 270-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed on Saturday following overnight snowfall. Eight families were moved to safer locations after heavy rain triggered landslides in Gurmul village in Doda district, officials said.

The highway is blocked at several points due to landslides following rain in Marog, Magerkote and Panthiyal, they said.

Efforts are on to ensure early restoration of traffic on the strategic road that links the Kashmir region to the rest of the country.

The officials said in Doda district of the Jammu region, eight families were moved to safer locations after heavy rains triggered shooting stones and landslides at Gurmul village in Kastigarh.

They have been provided accommodation and relief material, including bedding, by the district administration.

Agencies concerned have pressed men and machine to clear the vital highway.

The Mughal Road, an alternative route connecting Poonch and Rajouri districts in the Jammu region with south Kashmir’s Shopian district, was closed for traffic on December 8 following heavy snowfall at Pee ki Gali and adjoining areas.

The road along with several other high-altitude routes, including the Sinthan Top, which connects Kishtwar district in the Jammu region with south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, usually remains closed during winter months owing to heavy snowfall.

Reports of three to nine inches of snowfall was received from different parts of Kishtwar district, including Marwah (seven inches), Warwan (nine), Machail (seven), Ishtiyari (five) and Kishtwar, Paddar and Dachin (four inches each), the officials said.

In Jammu, it was a sunny day after overnight rains.

The weather is improving gradually across Jammu and Kashmir and it is likely to remain overcast throughout the day in Ladakh, a spokesperson of the meteorological department said.

“No major snowfall is expected till December 20,” the spokesperson said, adding there was widespread rain and snow in Jammu and Kashmir, Kargil and higher reaches of Leh throughout the night. — PTI