JAMMU. May 2: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for over seven hours after heavy rain triggered land and mudslides in Ramban area while one person was killed due to lightning in Kashmir today.
Official sources said that the heavy rain triggered flash floods in the Chenab river, prompting the authorities in Reasi and Akhnoor sectors to issue warnings about avoiding the visit of the public to the riverbank. With the rain in Jammu area since last evening , the temperature has decreased.
Due to bad weather and clouds, the chopper service to Mata Vaishnodevi from base camp Katra also remained suspended for long during the day, however, the battery car and cable car operation to Bhairon Mandir remained operational. The on-foot pilgrimage also remained uninterrupted.
The vehicular movement has stopped from both sides on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway due to mudslides at Chamba Seri in Ramban following flash floods caused by heavy rain. While one arm of the 4-lane highway was already blocked, with today’s landslides the entire highway was blocked. Nearly 100 mts of the highway was affected with the land and mudslides.
“Please check the status of road before starting your journey,” a Traffic Police officer said.
Official reported heavy rainfall following a cloudburst in the Chamba Seri area, triggering flash floods and mudslides on the highway, and a landslide in Chamba around 2.15 pm that blocked the highway.
There was no loss of life or injury, he said and efforts were underway to clear the highway.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Project Director, Ramban Sector PK Phonsa said 3-4 machines were deployed to clear the highway. He said the highway will be cleared by tonight.
After tough efforts, the NH authorities cleared the road at around 9 pm and over 1200 stranded vehicles were allowed to move. Today up convoy ( HMV) was allowed while LMVs were allowed on both the sides. First Jammu bound light vehicles were allowed and then Kashmir side. Thereafter heavy vehicles were allowed to be cleared.
Heavy rain induced by cloudburst had triggered flash floods and landslides in Ramban district on April 20, resulting in the deaths of three people and damage to scores of houses, shops and roads. Many vehicles buried under the debris are being removed.
Hundreds of vehicles were left stranded after traffic on the strategic National Highway — the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country — was suspended due to debris from the mountains blocking the route at nearly a dozen places between Nashri and Banihal.
Meanhile, due to the continuous rise in water level in Chenab river, an atmosphere of panic has been created among the people living in the areas adjacent to the river.
The administration has sounded alert for the people living in the area along the river. They have been asked not to go near the river.
On Friday, when water was released from Salal Project in Chenab river, the water level in the river started increasing which continued till evening. On this , alert was sounded by the administration for the people living in low lying areas of Reasi, Akhnoor, Jourian, Pargwal and Khour.
On Friday, the water level in Akhnoor river was measured at 27 ft which was continuously increasing. 30 ft is the alert and 33 ft danger mark for the water level in the river at Akhnoor.
Meanwhile, a man died after lightning struck him in Kulgam district, while another is missing after a boat capsized in Dal lake due to gale.
A 37-year-old auto driver, Tariq Ahmad Padder, of Gansorgam, Kulgam, died after being struck by lightning in his native village. He was rushed to District Hospital Kulgam where doctors declared him brought dead.
Meanwhile, the gusty winds followed by the moderate rainfall wreaked havoc in several areas as the reports about the uprooting of a tree was received from SKICC here, leading to the massive traffic jam along the route.
Four persons were rescued and one is still missing when two boats capsized amid strong winds in Dal lake.
Two boats capsized amid strong winds in Dal lake. The Quick Response team (QRT) State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Fire and Emergency department managed to rescue four persons. However, one person who has been identified as Tawfeeq Ahmad Chopan son of Nikka resident of Jogi Lanker Rainawari was reported to be missing.
Efforts were on to locate the missing person. However, due to darkness the rescue operation has been temporarily suspended and will be resumed tomorrow with the first light of the day.
Two flights were also diverted due to the windstorm today.
According to officials, IndiGo flights 6E896/2305 (Delhi-Srinagar-Delhi) and 6E214 (Mumbai-Srinagar-Ixj) were unable to land at Srinagar International Airport due to windstorms and have been diverted to Chandigarh and Delhi, respectively.
Moreover, as predicted by the local Meteorological department, (MeT), rains lashed several central and southern areas of Kashmir this afternoon.
Director MeT, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that there is a possibility of brief spell showers at isolated to scattered places with thunder and gusty winds till May 5.
