JAMMU, Feb 20: Following landslides in more than a dozen locations in the Ramban district on Tuesday, the vital Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for a second day, according to traffic department authorities. The officials advised people to stay off the road until further updates because the bad weather is making it difficult to clear the damaged regions between Ramban and Banihal. “Landslides/mudslides/shooting stones (from hillocks) at Dalwas, Peerha, near Peerha Tunnel, Mehad-Cafeteria, Jaiswal bridge, Trishul Morh, Seri, T2, Monkey Morh, Mom Passi, Gangroo, Hingni Marog, Kishtwari Pather, Shalghari Rampari, Tabela, and Chamalwas are blocking the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44),” a traffic department spokesperson stated.He claimed that the third day of rain in a row had further complicated the road clearance efforts. Additionally, a traffic department official reported on Monday that landslides caused by intense rains in Dalwas, Mehad-Cafeteria, Chamalwas, Shalgadi, and Gangroo resulted in the suspension of traffic on the 270-kilometer highway at approximately 9.30 am. The Banihal town along the route had 83.6 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours that ended at 8:30 am on Tuesday, according to a spokeswoman for the meteorological department.According to the spokesman, Bhaderwah in the Doda district had 58.8 mm of rainfall, while Batote in Ramban recorded 49.6 mm. Katra town, which serves as the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi temple in the Reasi district, reported 16.2 mm of rain during the same period. According to the statement, Jammu saw 5.8 mm of rain up till 8.30 am. The rest of the city was expected to see widespread rains throughout the day, with isolated showers continuing until February 25 with the exception of February 23.
