Jammu, March 3: The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed for vehicular traffic on Tuesday for six hours due to a landslide in Ramban district that left over 2,000 heavy vehicles stranded.
The 270-km-long highway, which is the only all-weather road link between Kashmir and the rest of the country, was blocked by the landslide, boulders at Peeda in the Chanderkote area of the district this morning.
“The landslide along with heavy boulders was triggered at 10:10 am today in the Peeda area in Chanderkote, Ramban district, and immediately the administration swung into action and deployed men and machinery to clear the debris from the highway. A single lane road has been restored for LMVs at 3:40 pm,” officials of the Traffic Department said.
“Though, we are clearing light motor vehicles from the highway by stopping road clearance work, but still over 2,000 heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) are stranded at different locations along the highway.” The traffic authorities said.
The Meteorological Department has issued fresh weather advisory for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh by predicting heavy rain and snow in higher reaches for three days commencing from March 5 due to a western disturbance.
“Widespread moderate rain and snow are expected in J&K and scattered places of the Ladakh region. Light rain and snow will commence at a few places of Kashmir between March 5 and 7. Rain and snow are expected mainly over Poonch, Rajouri, Banihal, Batote and Bhaderwah in Jammu, upper reaches of Kashmir (Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Baramulla and Kupwara) and Drass subdivision of Ladakh,” the weather advisory reads.
“Thunderstorm, hailstorm and gusty winds are expected in the plains of the Jammu division and a few places of Kashmir during the period,” the advisory reads.
