Srinagar, Jan 11: After remaining closed for three days due to mudslides, shooting stones, the vehicular movement on Srinagar-Jammu highway was restored Saturday while the stranded vehicles were being cleared, officials said.
SSP Rambanand SSP Traffic NHW, Mohita Sharma said after clearance of debris from Srinagar-Jammu highway. Stranded vehicles are being cleared.
“Single lane of NH has opened. Stranded vehicles are to be released first. Rest of the LMVs in Qazigund and Udhampur will be allowed to move soon,” SSP said.
She also added that the steel tunnel at Panthiyal was also damaged due to shooting stones. The wrath of nature has destroyed it completely. People should travel with the utmost caution, SSP said.
Another official said the stranded vehicles carrying essential commodities from Jammu are being cleared on the highway and later in the evening Srinagar-based vehicles were allowed.
“Over 2200 vehicles were stranded due to mudslides, shooting stones blocked traffic in Panthiyal and other places,” he said.
A traffic police spokesman said subject to fair weather and road clearance, LMVs Passenger/Private Cars shall be allowed from both sides on the Jammu-Srinagar highway. TCU Jammu, Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic.
Meanwhile, State Disaster Management Authority on Saturday issued an avalanche warning for 12 districts of Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of heavy snowfall in the valley.
A JKDMA Spokesperson said that an avalanche with a high danger level is likely to occur above 2200 to 2400 metres over Baramulla and Ganderbal districts in next 24 hours.
“Avalanche with medium danger level is likely to occur above 2000 to 2500 metres over over Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch Rajouri and Reasi districts,” he said.
The authority also expressed apprehension of ‘Low Level’ avalanche occurrence above 2200 metres over Anantnag, Kulgam and Ramban district.
People living in the specified areas have been advised to take precautions and avoid venturing into avalanche-prone areas.
At Srinagar International Airport, there was chaos among the passengers due to delayed morning flights for some hours because of inclement weather conditions and reduced visibility.
Director Srinagar Airport, Kuldeep Singh Rishi told Rising Kashmir that due to low visibility and bad weather, few morning flights were delayed. “Later all 72 flights operated normally at the airport. No flight was cancelled,” he said.
