Srinagar/Jammu: Jammu-Srinagar National
Highway, connecting Kashmir valley to the outside world,
remained closed for traffic for the second consecutive day
following landslides at Panthal.
"The highway is closed for traffic. There have been
landslides at Panthal," an official of the traffic control
room said in Srinagar, adding it was unclear when the road
would be open for traffic.
The highway was closed for traffic as a portion of the
road was washed away at Kunfur nallah in Chanderkote area near
Jammu due to flashfloods triggered by heavy rains yesterday in
the state.
Fresh snowfall around Jawahar tunnel and landslides at
Digdole and Panthal had resulted in closure of the 294-km
Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
The authorities did not allow movement of traffic from
both the capital cities today, Senior Superintendent of Police
(SSP) Traffic, National Highway, Kifayat Haider told PTI in
Jammu, adding around 30-40 vehicles were stranded at different
places on the highway.
The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road was also blocked for
traffic due to landslide at Jathi and Drabshalla area near
Jammu for the second day today, he said.
Border Roads Organisation personnel are working to clear
the landslide and repair the road washed away by flashfloods,
he said.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Valley was cut-off from the rest of
the world yesterday after the air-link also remained closed as
flights scheduled to the Srinagar Airport were cancelled.
The airport officials in Srinagar today said they are
waiting for the weather to clear. So far, no flights had
landed at Srinagar airport.
Following heavy snowfall in remote areas and upper
reaches of Kashmir, authorities had also issued a medium
danger avalanche warning in many parts of the Valley.
PTI
