Several roads, NH-5 remain blocked due to landslides in HP

SHIMLA: Several roads, including national highway 5 in Himachal Pradesh remained blocked on Friday as efforts to clear the route were hindered by landslides caused by incessant rain, an official said.

The highway, which connects Ferozepur in Punjab to the SinoIndia border at Shipki La, was blocked on Wednesday night after snowfall in Kinnaur district, he said. A bridge in Kinnaur’s Urni village between Tapri and Choling on NH-5 had been damaged due to landslides, executive engineer, NHAI, Prakash Negi said. Besides, the Aut-Sainj route (NH-305) was also blocked at Jalori Pass after snowfall, Negi added.

Sub-divisional magistrate Anil Chauhan said, “A landslide occurred in Nerwa-Chopal road on Thursday night blocking the road for a few hours. It has been cleared for traffic.”

State MeT department director Manmohan Singh said, “Heavy snowfall and rain is likely in isolated parts of the state till March 15.”

JAMMU-SRINAGAR NH REMAINS SHUT

JAMMU: The Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for the third consecutive day on Friday due to heavy snowfall and landslides, officials said.

Over 2,000 vehicles comprising mostly trucks carrying essential supplies are stranded at various places on the highway.

“We are monitoring the situation and restoration work can only commence after improvement in the weather. As and when the highway reopens, our first priority will be to allow clearance of stranded vehicles,” said Ajay Anand, deputy superintendent of police (traffic), Ramban. HTC & PTI