Heavy snow cuts off Kashmir Valley

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which connects Kashmir valley to the outside world, remained closed for traffic for the second consecutive day on Tuesday following landslides at Panthal.

"The highway is closed for traffic. There have been landslides at Panthal," an official of the traffic control room said in Srinagar, adding it was unclear when the road would be open for traffic.

The highway was closed for traffic as a portion of the road was washed away at Kunfur nallah in Chanderkote area near Jammu due to flash-floods triggered by heavy rains on Monday in the state.

Fresh snowfall around Jawahar tunnel and landslides at Digdole and Panthal had resulted in closure of the 294-km Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

The authorities did not allow movement of traffic from both the capital cities on Tuesday, Senior Superintendent of Police, (Traffic, National Highway) Kifayat Haider told PTI in Jammu, adding nearly 30-40 vehicles were stranded at different places on the highway.

The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road was also blocked for traffic due to a landslide at Jathi and Drabshalla area near Jammu for the second day on Tuesday, he said. Border Roads Organisation personnel are working to clear the landslide and repair the road washed away by flash-floods, he said.

Meanwhile, the Kashmir Valley was cut off from the rest of the world as flights scheduled to Srinagar airport were cancelled.

The airport officials in Srinagar on Tuesday said they are waiting for the weather to clear. So far, no flights had landed at Srinagar airport.

Following heavy snowfall in the remote areas and upper reaches of Kashmir, authorities had also issued an avalanche warning in many parts of the Valley.