Jammu-Srinagar highway blocked due to landslips
JAMMU Fresh landslides triggered by heavy downpour blocked the strategic JammuSrinagar national highway on Thursday.
Owing to Western Disturbances, the region has been witnessing incessant rains triggering landslides and shooting stones which block the highway. Apart from this, about four inches of snow has also accumulated near Jawahar Tunnel, Omo area and couple of inches in Qazigund town. The landslides have manily occurred between Ramban and Banihal.
At around 6:30pm on Wednesday, the highway was blocked due to shooting stones at Panthyal. It remained blocked through Thursday and about 800 vehicles were left stranded near Ramban.
DSP national highway, Ramban, Madan Mohan Singh, said, “It has been raining heavily. There have been landslides and incidents of shooting stone at Digdol, Mehar, Gangroo, Panthyal and Ramsoo.” He added, “In view of the inclement weather and road condition between Jawahar Tunnel and Ramban, coupled with shooting stones at Panthyal, vehicular movement, from either sides, was not allowed on the highway on Thursday.”
He also informed that around 500 passenger vehicles and 300 heavy vehicles bound for the Valley are stranded at Chanderkot and Ramban since Wednesday evening. “Our priority is to clear the road for these vehicles,” he said. Meanwhile, vehicular traffic on the road link connecting Batote and Doda region to Kishtwar and Baderwah too has been affected due to landslides.
LIGHTNING KILLS RAJOURI WOMAN
A middle-aged woman, Khadim Begum, 48, died after being struck by lightening when she was working in the fields near her house in Budhal in Rajouri district on Thursday morning.
The incessant rain since Tuesday in the region have thrown life out of gear in the upper reaches of Jammu region. Many low-lying areas of Jammu city are facing problems of water logging. On the other hand, many canals and rivers in the region are flowing near the danger mark.
The downpour also triggered flashfloods in Poonch river, trapping around 20 people. They were all rescued in the afternoon.
Rooftops of more than 20 houses were blown away by winds in the upper areas of Udhampur district, including Dudu and Jakedh. Some vehicles were also damaged when a tree fell on the Udhampur bypass.
Keeping in mind the safety of students, schools were closed in the upper regions of Doda and Kishtwar districts on Thursday.
RAIN, HAILSTORM DAMAGE HOUSES, CROPS IN CHENAB VALLEY Villagers in Doda and Kistwar districts have demanded immediate relief for the victims of hailstorm and incessant rains.
Incessant rains, hailstorm and strong winds have caused heavy damage to residential houses in many parts of the Chenab valley.
There has also been significant damage to fruit bearing trees and mustard crop. Many link roads, bridle paths, electricity and water lines have also been damaged in the region.
CHOPPER SERVICES TO VAISHNO DEVI
SHRINE SUSPENDED
The inclement weather around the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi forced authorities to suspend helicopter services from the base camp at Katra to Sanjichat on Thursday.