Rain, snowfall in J&K, Ladakh; Mughal Road closed
*Army, police rescue 100 passengers
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Oct 18: Four tourists were killed as a vehicle (Thar) skidded off the slippery snow clad road and fell down into a deep gorge near Khardungla Pass in Ladakh area while higher reaches of J&K including Pir Ki Gali on Mughal Road experienced fresh snowfall forcing authorities to close the road for traffic.
The rain lashed many parts of Kashmir and Jammu region today and this has witnessed a sharp fall in temperature. A large number of vehicles have been trapped and stranded at Pir Ki Gali, Poshana and other areas in Poonch and Shopian. The police and Army rescued over 100 passengers travelling in 26 light vehicles on Poonch side late this evening.
Click here to watch video
Reports from Leh said that four tourists on way to Nubra from Leh met with a tragic accident as their Mahindra Thar vehicle rolled down into more than 150 feet deep gorge on slippery road near Khardungla Pass, at the height of more than 18,000 ft from sea level today. There was fresh snow fall today and the road had turned slippery.
Immediately after receiving information Police Party from Nubra rushed to the spot. The Disaster Response team from Leh also arrived there and joined rescue operation. While one person had died on the spot, three injured were removed to the road after tough and long operation while they too, succumbed to injuries later on the way and one in hospital at Leh.
They were identified as Mohd Feroz, son of Mohd Fayaz, resident of New Seelampur, Delhi; Zeeshan Ahmed, son of Toufiq Ahmed, resident of Muradabad in UP; Reyaz Ahmed, son of Sharief Ahmed, resident of Brahampuri, Delhi and Azam Khan, resident of Delhi.
A senior police officer said that accident at Khadungla Pass took place due to inclement weather which led to fresh snowfall. He said even at Chang La Pass and other major Passes in Ladakh region, fresh snowfall occurred today.
He said two tourists hailing from Karnakata were injured when their Thar vehicle fell into a gorge on slippery road at Singyala in Lingshed area of Leh. Both of them received minor injuries and were shifted to Khaltsi hospital.
Meanwhile, the higher reaches of Kashmir including Pir ki Gali on Mughal Road today experienced fresh snowfall forcing the authorities to close the road for traffic while rains lashed Kashmir.
The higher reaches of Kashmir including Pir Ki Gali had fresh snowfall early today forcing the authorities to shut down the road for safety of passengers. However, they said that it will be re-opened after improvement in weather.
Meanwhile, Weatherman here said that light to moderate rain over plains and light snowfall over high reaches was most likely at scattered to fairly widespread places of Jammu and Kashmir on October 19 evening to morning of October 20.
“There will be gradual improvement in weather from October 20th late afternoon,” a Meteorological department official said here, adding, “there’s no forecast of any major snowfall for next one week to 10 days in J&K and Ladakh.”
The MeT official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 7.0°C against 7.4°C the previous night. The temperature was 1.9°C above normal for the capital city.
Qazigund recorded a low of 6.0°C against 5.0°C the previous four consecutive nights. The temperature was 1.6°C below normal for place.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at 4.5°C against 2.6°C the previous night and it was 3.0°C above normal for tourist place.
Kokernag recorded a low of 6.1°C against 7.0°C the previous night and it was 0.2°C above normal for the place.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 2.2°C against 4.0°C the previous night and it was 0.7°C below normal for the skiing resort.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at 5.6°C against 4.7°C on the previous night. It was 1.1°C above normal for the north Kashmir place.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
