Landslides shut J&K highway, vehicles stranded

The 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway continued to be closed for the second day on Tuesday after landslides triggered by heavy rains blocked the road that connect Kashmir with the rest of the country.

Personnel of the Border Roads Organisation have been working to clear the highway and reopen it for vehicular traffic, officials said, adding that heavy rains were making their task difficult.

The landslide was triggered by heavy rains on highway in Rattanpass area in Banihal teshil of Doda on Monday. Meanwhile, Pir Panchal range on Tuesday experienced heavy snowfall along with the parts of upper reaches of Doda district while Jammu region received heavy rains.

Jammu recorded a rainfall of 3.2 mm rainfall, Katra, the base camp of Vaishnodevi pilgrims, 7.9 mm rainfall and Bhaderwah 10 mm, Rajouri and Poonch had 2 mm rainfall respectively.