NH blocked, several flights cancelled
Fayaz Bukhari/Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Feb 1: While three persons were killed as avalanche swept them when they were clearing road in Pahalgam, four villagers were rescued from flooded Chenab river in Akhnoor area of Jammu, whereas, overnight snowfall and continuous rain led to the closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and several other inter-state roads for the second consecutive day today.
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The hills of Kashmir and higher reaches of Jammu region witnessed heavy snowfall since yesterday while the plains in Valley had light snowfall but heavy rain. The South Kashmir’s hills experienced heavy snowfall with over 2 feet snow recorded in Jawahar Tunnel area and Pahalgam.
Official sources said that three persons were killed after an avalanche swept them near Gudkhamb point at Aru in Pahalgam area of Aanantnag district today. He said these people had gone for snow clearance on Pahalgam-Aru road and the snow clearance machine along with three persons came under an avalanche near Gudkhamb point. One person has been rescued while bodies of two others were recovered from the avalanche. However, the rescued person succumbed in the hospital.
The dead have been identified as Javaid Ahmad Shiekh son of Mohammad Shaban of Frislan Pahalgam; Ilyas Ahmad Shah, son of Abdul Gani of Mendoora Tral in Pulwama district and Abdul Aziz of Awoora, Pahalgam in district Anantnag.
Four persons along with tractor trolley were trapped in flash flood in river Chenab near Pargwal in Akhnoor sector this evening. The trolley driver along with three villagers from Narsinghpura (Pargwal), had gone to fetch sand from the river bed. There was light rain in the area. Then suddenly, they were trapped in the flash flood in the river. They mounded on the trolley and rang up family members from their mobile phones and police Station Akhnoor.
SDPO Akhnoor, Ajay Sharma along with police party and locals rushed to the spot. All the four trapped people were rescued with the help of ropes after about two hours efforts. The trolley was also saved taking help of the two JCB machines.
The rescued people were identified as Sunil Kumar, son of Sat Pal; Rakesh Kumar, son of Gurdyal; Chander Bhan Sharma, son of Bodh Raj and Kamala, son of Ram Chand, all residents of Madkulley hamlet near Pargwal (Akhnoor).
The heavy snowfall along the National Highway in Jawahar Tunnel sector blocked the road. However, Border Roads Organization (BRO) cleared it at around 3.30 pm and by evening around 100 stranded trucks near the North portal crossed towards Banihal and around 20 oil tankers that were struck near Shaitani Nallah crossed towards Kashmir.
The NH between Banihal and Ramban remained blocked despite clearance operation being conducted at various places. The Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Shoukat Aijaz said that a JCB operator and a pedestrian were injured due to shooting stones near Panthyal today.
The DC said that hundreds of passengers were stranded on the NH and around 300 were provided shelter in Banihal and Ramban by the District administration.
IGP Traffic, J&K, Alok Kumar told the Excelsior that National Highway continued to be closed on the second Consecutive day today due to land slides and continuous shooting stones at Panthyal, Maroog, Gangroo, Battery Chashma, Anokhi Fall, Kela Morh, Monkey Morh and Mom Passi between Ramban and Banihal sector. He said at Panthyal and Anokhi Fall, the slides were cleared during the day between 12 noon and 5 pm but again slides struck the road. A JCB operator and a civilian while crossing Passi, were hit by stones and sustained injuries they were shifted to Ramban hospital.
Kumar said Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road was also blocked due to land slides at Raggi Nallah. However, the road was cleared this afternoon. About 200 stranded vehicles were cleared for both sides.
He said after clearing about 100 odd stranded vehicles towards Kashmir including a score of tankers and 30 security force vehicles, after snow clearance operation in Jawahar Tunnel area, the highway was again blocked there at around 6 pm due to slippery road conditions and light snowfall. There was about two to three ft snow in JT area. He said tomorrow morning again, the restoration work will be launched. The traffic will be allowed subject to weather conditions, the IG added.
Meanwhile, another Traffic Police official has advised the stranded passengers not to travel on the highway especially between Ramban and Qazigund. “In view of the inclement weather as well as present road conditions, the stranded passengers are advised not to travel on NH especially between Ramban to Qazigund. The stranded vehicles would be allowed to proceed towards their destinations once the road is cleared”, he said.
Heavy snowfall has been reported at Patnitop, Bhaderwah, Latti, Dudu, Basantgarh, Pancheri, Bani, Loang, Doda, Kishtwar, Gool-Mahore, Budhal and Poonch area. The power supply to these snow bound areas has also been snapped. Many roads in these areas were closed due to snowfall.
In Bhaderwah, Patnitop, Gandoh, Dudu, Latti and Basantgarh towns, about 2 to 2.5 ft snowfall was reported today. A triple storey house of one Munawar Din Jumma collapsed due to rain and snowfall in Bhallesa area of Gandoh today. However, no loss of life has been reported. Jumma sustained minor injuries, ASP Bhaderwah, Rajinder Singh said.
Trikuta hills of Mata Vaishnodevi also experienced fresh snowfall. Chopper service to Sanji Chhat from base camp Katra, Battery car and Ropeway trolley operation also remained suspended. Yatra however, remained smooth.
A senior official at Jammu Airport said that about half of the flights remained cancelled at Jammu and Srinagar airports due to bad weather and poor visibility.
Chief Engineer, EM&RE Jammu Sudhir Gupta when contacted said that about 200 transformers and scores of electric poles have been damaged in the snow bound areas of Jammu region as per reports received by this afternoon. He said at some places cables have also been broken. The restoration work on war footing will be launched tomorrow morning as the weather improves.
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