One person was killed and another injured when their vehicle was hit by a shooting stone near Marog area in Ramban district on the 270 kilometre Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Saturday.
Police officials said a shooting stone hit a Creta carbearing number (JK01AA-9863) which was on its way to Jammu from Srinagar.Officials identified the deceased as Waseem Azad son of Meraj Din ofMunawarabad, KhayamChowk Srinagar. The injured has been identified as ManzoorAzad son of Ali Muhammad of Munawarabad, KhayamChowk Srinagar.
Shooting stones hit vehicle, 3 injured
Three persons were injured when the vehicle they weretravelling in was hit by shooting stones at KhooniNallah in Ramban district onSaturday.
Police said a shooting stone hit a Tavera vehicle (No.JK02AF 0157) resulting in injuries to the driver and two other passengers.Police identified the injured as driver Gulzar Ahmad of Shopian. MuzammilShaikh and Sayar Ahmad Shaikh, both residents of Bihar.
No fresh traffic on highway on Sunday:
Landslides and shooting stones disrupted movement of trafficon Srinagar- Jammu National Highway on Saturday leaving hundreds of vehiclesstranded. Senior Traffic Police officials told Greater Kashmir that nofresh vehicular movement on the highway will be allowed on Sunday.
“In view of the shooting stones and landslides at variousplaces between Ramban and Banihal, clearance is going on. Subject to fairweather and clearance of road, only stranded vehicles will be allowed towardsSrinagar,” said a travel advisory issued by Traffic police department.
Speaking with Greater Kashmir, Jatinder Singh Johar,SSP Traffic (Highway) said more than 2000 vehicles are stuck at differentplaces on the highway. Johar said the landslides at Ramban, Chenani, Moumpasihave caused stoppage of vehicles which would be cleared soon.
“Men and machinery are on the job to clear the highway.Landslides and shooting stones are compounding the problems and hamperingclearance work,” Johar said.
The highway has remained closed for several days during thismonth due to inclement weather causing hardships to travellers and choking ofsupplies to the Valley. Landslides and shooting stones have occurred rightsince November this winter causing frequent closure of the highway.
Weather likely to remain dry till March 11:
While sun was out on Saturday after three days of rains, theMeteorological Department has predicted weather across Kashmir to remain drytill March 11.
Director MeT, Sonam Lotus, told Greater Kashmir thata light intensity wet spell including rains in plains and light snowfall inupper reaches is expected between March 12-14. Lotus said this is due to aWestern Disturbance which is likely to hit the region around March 12 and causea change in weather.
(Withinputs from Muhammad Taskeen in Banihal)