Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was disrupted due to mudslides and shooting stones on Saturday. The mudslides were triggered by incessant rainfall in the region. According to officials, multiple landslides occurred between Banihal and Ramban districts blocking the highway. The national highway remained shut to vehicular traffic until further notice.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have mobilised men and machines to clear the highway for one-way traffic, an official said. Traffic on the highway has been restricted to one-way since February 26 and was being used alternatively from Jammu and Srinagar after heavy rains and snowfall damaged the arterial road at several places last week.
According to the meteorological department, Banihal recorded the highest 74.4 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, ending around 8.30 am on Saturday. It said snowfall in high-altitude areas and rains in the plains will continue at most places in the Union territory. The weather is likely to improve gradually on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, one person was killed after a tanker collided with the hillside on Jammu Srinagar National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur, police said on Saturday. According to the police, the accident happened near Moud Passi on Jammu Srinagar National Highway.
"The dead body of the deceased has been shifted to mortuary of associated hospital, Government Medical College Udhampur for autopsy. Further investigation is under way," the Udhampur police said. Jammu and Kashmir along with Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have been receiving snowfall and heavy rainfall for the past few days.
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