Traffic restored on Jammu-Srinagar NH

SRINAGAR:Even as moderate rains lashed Jammu region, the Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained open for traffic movement on Saturday.

However, the traffic movement was disrupted in the day from 10.30am to 1pm following a landslide at Marog in Ramban district. “The landslide was removed and the traffic was resumed around 1pm,” said a police officer. The traffic on the highway had been restricted to one-way for a fortnight and only Jammu-bound vehicles were allowed to run on the road from Srinagar on Saturday.

Moderate rainfall lashed parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including the highway over the past two days, triggering landslides at several places on the Ramban-Banihal stretch.

There were intermittent rains across Kashmir valley for the second consecutive day on Saturday.

An official at Srinagar’s meteorological station said the summer capital Srinagar received 2.6 mm of rains for the day and 9.2 mm in southern tourist resort of Pahalgam. It also rained 4.4mm in north Kashmir’s Kupwara.

The official said the mercury settled at 8.4 degree Celsius in Srinagar while it dipped to 4.4 degree Celsius in Pahalgam.

The weatherman expects rains to continue till Sunday afternoon.

“The (rain bringing weather) system has weakened but it may rain intermittently till Sunday noon after which the weather is expected to improve,” the official said. High reaches in Himachal receive fresh snow.With higher reaches of the state receiving fresh bout of snow, the temperature has decreased by several notches.

Higher reaches of Kullu, Kinnaur, Shimla and Lahaul Spiti received fresh snowfall while the lower region received mild rainfall. More snow, rains are expected in the next 24 hours, while the day and night temperature is likely to decrease.

THE TRAFFIC HAD BEEN RESTRICTED TO 1WAY FOR A FORTNIGHT AND ONLY JAMMUBOUND VEHICLES WERE ALLOWED TO RUN ON THE ROAD FROM SRINAGAR ON SATURDAY.