Jammu-Srinagar highway closed amidst multiple landslides
Heavy rainfall led to landslides and shooting stones on Jammu-Srinagar national highway, halting traffic. NHAI is clearing the road for one-way traffic. Banihal received 74.4 mm rainfall in 24 hours. Weather department predicts more snowfall and rain in the Union territory.
Traffic came to a halt on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in the early hours of Saturday due to heavy rainfall causing numerous landslides and the movement of shooting stones in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir.
As reported by PTI citing officials, the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was blocked at over half a dozen places between Nashri and Banihal.
“The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have mobilised men and machines to clear the highway for one-way traffic,” officials 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.
(With inputs from PTI)
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