JAMMU NEWS: More Snowfall, Highways Close
JAMMU: Vehicular traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar and Jammu Kishtwar national highways, each 300-km long, was stopped on Monday following heavy snowfall and landslides at a number of places along the way. Meteorological Department at Jammu said there was risk of avalanche on people living in the higher reaches.
Snowfall and rain continued to lash the state for the fourth consecutive day. Met Department predicts that the same would, continue for the next 48 hours. “Since last night, landslides with shooting stones are continuing between Panthal and Banihal, 150 km from Jammu. About I-feet snow was recorded on either side of the Jawahar tunnel. In these conditions, we decided to stop vehicular movement on Jammu Srinagar highway,” said SSP (National Highway) Alok Kumar. He said following landslides near Assar along the Jammu Kishtwar national highway, traffic was stopped there too.
The SSP said over 600 vehicles, mostly load carriers, were stopped at Banihal and Udbampur along the highway. Vehicles were not allowed to move from Jammu and Srinagar on Monday morning, though vehicles stopped along the high way were allowed to move up till Sunday late night.
According to the Met Department, from February 5 to February 8, Gulmarg recorded 140 cm of snow, the highest in the state. Srinagar received 342 mm rainfall and Banihal in Jammu recorded 214 mm rainfall. “The present weather condition is due to the Western Disturbances. There will be slight improvement in the weather on January 10, but it will again deteriorate on January 11 and 12,” said Met Department director Sonam Lotus.
Hundreds were stranded at Jammu bus stand and Nagrota, 20 Ian from Jammu.
SOURCE-HT