Srinagar: A massive landslide once again closed Srinagar-Jammu highway for the third consecutive day on Friday leaving hundreds of passengers and vehicles stranded on the
mountainous road.
The landslide occurred near Digdol on the highway in the afternoon causing extensive damage to a portion of the road which is expected to take two more days for repair.
Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Nazim Zia Khan confirmed the landslide blocked the highway saying nearly 60 to 70 meters of road has caved in at Digdol.
“Every time landslide wipes off the road, we have to construct fresh road in that portion. This is what we have to do now,” he said
The highway was closed since Wednesday when landslides occurred at multiple places halting traffic movement. Since then, the job for clearing the road was on but the fresh
landslide has hampered chances of opening the road.
“Men and machinery was on the job to clear the road and it was expected the road will be thrown open today. But the fresh landslide has hampered the work and will take at
least two days to make the road traffic worthy,” Khan told Kashmir Reader on phone.
Almost 1000 vehicles were stranded on the highway in Ramban stretch alone while scores of people are stranded in other parts of the road.
Superintendent of Traffic Police (Rural) Muzaffar Shah said about 3500 vehicles including 400 light motor vehicles were stranded from Anantnag to Qazigund stretch on the
highway.
According to him, the highway has suffered major damage and there is no time-frame for reopening the road.
Meanwhile, rains and snow was reported in several parts of the Valley while there was a slight improvement in unabated cold wave in the region.
In Kashmir, hilly areas received a fresh bout of snow while rains lashed parts of the Valley.
Deputy Director Meteorological Department Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said they expect light snowfall in upper reaches including Gulmarg and Pahalgam. But it will be cloudy in plains,
he added.

NAZIMA SIDIQ