The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed to vehicular traffic on Wednesday due to a landslide in Ramban district. The 270km stretch is the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country.
The PTI report said the landslide occurred at Duggie Pulli near Chanderkote. It added that many heavy motor vehicles (HMV) and light motor vehicles (LMV) were stranded at various points on the highway.
Local officials said manpower and machinery had been deployed to clear the area of debris.
The highway was cleared only a few days ago after multiple landslides between Chanderkote and Ramsu and snowfall in the Banihal area on Sunday.
Much of the Kashmir valley is experiencing a severe cold snap, with temperatures dropping below zero. In Gulmarg, the temperature dropped to minus 10.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of 1.3C, down from 1.8C the night before.
Pahalgam, also home to the annual Amarnath yatra base camp, recorded a low of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, down from minus 2.8 degrees Celsius the night before, officials said.
The Kashmir valley is currently in the midst of its harshest 40-day winter period, known as “Kira-Karan”, which began on December 21 last year.
Snow potential is most frequent and greatest during this period, and most areas, especially in the higher areas, will see heavy to very heavy snowfalls.
‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ will end on January 31, but the cold wave will continue into Kashmir with 20 days of ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (little cold) and 10 days of ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
Complete News Source : Hindustan Times
