Jammu-Srinagar highway blocked due to heavy rains; halts Amarnath Yatra

The Srinagar-Jammu highway Thursday remained closed for at least 12 hours following landslides due to incessant rains.

“There were series of landslides at Peeda, Peeda Bridge, Main Market, Karol, Army Convoy Ground Ramban, Seri, Marog, Panthyal, Gangroo and Chereel in Banihal after which the highway was closed for vehicular movement,” SSP Traffic (Highway), Sanjay Kotwal, said.

The highway was closed at around 2:30 a.m and re-opened after 3 p.m.

Due to closure of the highway—the only road link between Kashmir Valley and rest of the world- hundreds of Amarnath pilgrims remained stranded on the route for several hours.

Kotwal said the highway was cleared with the help of Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

“Amarnath yatris remained stranded at Kud from 10 a.m to 2:30 p.m,” he said.

An official said that traffic would be allowed from Srinagar to Jammu on Friday in case of fair weather.

Meanwhile, rains wreaked havoc in Jammu region and there was a flood-like situation.

“Roads have caved in at several places and several buildings are submerged, structures have suffered massive damages,” said Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Simrandeep Singh. “People living around River Tawi were the worst sufferers.”