Cold wave grips Jammu, NH restored

Vehicles move with headlights on as dense fog engulfs Jammu on Sunday morning. — Excelsior/Rakesh
Vehicles move with headlights on as dense fog engulfs Jammu on Sunday morning. — Excelsior/Rakesh

Fog hits air, train, vehicular traffic
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Dec 13: Dense fog in many plain areas of Jammu region affected the air, train and vehicular traffic during morning hours today while cold wave has gripped the entire region after heavy snowfall on the higher reaches of J&K during last two days.
Due to rains during last two days, the landslide struck the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway this afternoon at Moud near Chenani in district Udhampur, causing massive blockade. The highway was, however, restored for one way traffic after three and half hours by the National Highway authorities at around 8.15 pm.
Official sources said that entire northern region has been gripped in dense fog for the last couple of days. The plain areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts were also engulfed by the fog during morning hours today. The weather improved only after 11 am. The fog hit the arrival of some morning flights, besides train traffic. Even the arrival of inter-state buses has was affected with the changing weather conditions. The chopper service at Katra was also affected for some time due to bad weather.
There has been significant decrease in the temperature in the region for the last few days as the mountainous areas of Jammu witnessed fresh snowfall. The people have taken out heavy woolens to protect them from the cold wave which swept the entire region. Even during morning and evening hours , the people especially from the labour class, are seen these days sitting near the fire to warm them up.
Reports from Udhampur and Ramban said that highway was slippery due to fresh snowfall in Jawahar Tunnel area. Though the weather has improved a bitbut Traffic Police authorities are taking all the precautions in allowing movement of passenger vehicles during night and morning hours in Jawahar Tunnel and Shaitani Nallah areas, In Ramban and Banihal areas, there was massive traffic jamming during the day due to single passage at 3-4 places where landslide took place two days ago.
Due to sudden landslide at Moud near Chenani, about 15 kms ahead of Udhampur, towards Nashri Tunnel, massive landslide took place at around 4.45 pm today. It blocked the busy National Highway and a large number of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the sliding point. Due to slush and flowing of continuous water, the restoration work was affected for some time. The highway was, however, restored at around 8.15 pm. Long traffic jams occurred there after that and traffic police had tough time to control movement of traffic for few hours tonight.
A MeT spokesman said that Jammu recorded a minimum of 9.7 degree Celsius temperature and maximum 18.0 degree C , while summer capital Srinagar minimum 0.1 degree Celsius and maximum 7.5 degree C temperature today. He predicted fair weather from tomorrow for the next couple of days in the region.