The Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only surface link between Kashmir and rest of the world, remained closed for fifth straight day on Friday even as the stranded passengers and drivers held protests against the government.
Officials of traffic police said that five fresh landslides Friday hit the highway leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded at different places.
Officials said that there were fresh landslides at Gangroo, Ramsoo, Pantiyal and Anokhi areas in Ramban district and a portion of the highway has sunk near BDO office Ramsoo. “Work for clearance of landslides and restoration of the highway is underway,” officials said adding that a huge landslide at Sherbibi was cleared but the work on the rest was still on.
Officials said hundreds of vehicles, most of them trucks, are stranded at various places including Udhampur, Chenani, Patnitop, Ramban, Batote and Banihal.
The stranded passengers and drivers held protests on Friday, demanding serious efforts by the government for immediate re-opening of the road.
“It’s a shame that eight million people of Kashmir have been left at the mercy of a few earthmovers clearing the slides on the highway. Can’t the government afford to do more, than pretending to be doing something, in this 21st century?” an angry passenger asked.
The passengers said that for the last five days they are stuck on the road without any accommodation or help from the government. They said that the families that include women and children have been suffering badly. They alleged that the administration has totally failed in the situation.
Superintendent of police, traffic (rural) Muzaffer Ahmad Shah told the Greater Kashmir there are either landslides or shooting stones at six places on the highway in Ramban section, posing hurdles in clearance operations. “Once we start clearance operation, fresh slides and shooting stones hamper it,” Shah said adding that every effort was being made for restoration of the highway.
Meanwhile, parts of Kashmir experienced fresh snowfall and rains last night even as meteorological department has predicted more precipitation at isolated places during the next 24 hours.
MeT officials said that Srinagar recorded 0.2 mm of rains/snow, Qazigund 4.5mm, Pahalgam 0.6mm and Kokernag 3.2 mm. The divisional administration has issued fresh avalanche warning for the people living in avalanche prone areas in Kashmir division.
Officials said that in view of avalanche threat in nine avalanche prone districts of Kashmir division the people living in avalanche prone areas have been asked to venture out with utmost caution. The warning has been issued for the avalanche-prone areas in district Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kargil and Leh of Kashmir division.
MeT officials said Srinagar recorded minus 1.3 degrees Celsius minimum temperature while Pahalgam and Gulmarg recorded minus 6.1 and minus 10 degrees Celsius respectively.
Leh town in Ladakh region was at minus 12.9 and Kargil was coldest at minus 19.8 degrees Celsius, Jammu 5.6, Katra 4.8, Batote minus 1.2, Bannihal minus 1.4 and Bhaderwah was at minus 0.8 degrees Celsius.