Flash floods, landslides hit Jammu and Kashmir
Highlights
- No vehicles are being allowed from either side - from Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa
- Once the weather clears, only stranded vehicles will be allowed to move to their destinations
- The J&K police have also advised commuters to call on given numbers and check for updates
Jammu and Kashmir: A 150-foot section of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway washed away on Wednesday after heavy rains triggered flash floods in the Union Territory. Earlier today, traffic on the highway was blocked due to landslides, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded. Heavy rains also shuttered an under-construction bridge in the Udhampur district.
A non-fatal incident of house collapse was reported from Ramban district, while five people trapped in flash floods in river Ans in Reasi district were rescued by the police, officials said.
Several roads in Ramban and Udhampur districts were closed for the second consecutive day today, while the traffic on the Mughal Road, which connects the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in the Jammu region with south Kashmir's Shopian district, was also suspended due to landslides.
"The shuttering of under-construction Peerah bridge was washed away due to heavy rains (on the highway)", a police official said, adding that the one which is normally used for traffic is safe.
Many machines were involved in the work to restore the road patch swept away in the flash floods in the Tawi river.
"Chances of road opening today are minimum. There are no reports of any loss of life", they said.
"The Jammu-Srinagar highway is blocked due to fresh shooting stones and landslides at several places in Ramban district," a traffic official confirmed.
There are over 33 landslides, mudslides and incidents of shooting stones reported on the 270-km highway in Ramban and Udhampur districts, they said.
The situation at Battery Cheshma on the highway is bad as a lot of mud is to be cleared to ensure that heavy vehicles trapped in it are cleared, they said.
The road connecting Khari to Mahoo and Khari to Nachlana was blocked due to mudslide and shooting stones and part of the road sank at Hirnihaal, they said, adding the people are again advised not to venture out.
According to some reports, over 1,000 vehicles are stranded at various places along the highway.
As the highway continues to be closed for traffic, stranded passengers were provided with food and medical facilities, they said. It is still raining in the Ramsoo-Ramban sector as of now, the officials said.
The Mughal Road is blocked due to landslides at Poshana while the SSG road is blocked at Chini nallah and efforts are on to clear them, they said.
However, heavy rains are hindering the cleaning operation, the officials said.
The deputy commissioners of Ramban and Kishtwar districts have also ordered the closure of all educational institutions up to higher secondary level including private schools for the day, an official said.
"All schools across Ramban district, including higher secondary schools, shall remain closed today in view of the heavy rainfall and overflowing of nallahs and mudslides at several locations," Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mussarat Islam said in a tweet.
(With inputs from PTI)
