SRINAGAR: The Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Leh highway were closed on Thursday after heavy rains triggered landslides at various places along the route while an alert has been issued in Chenab valley.
The inclement weather conditions also lead to the suspension of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
Due to heavy rains on Wednesday night, massive landslides blocked the national highway in Ramban district of the Jammu region, an official told The New Indian.
The landslides forced the authorities to suspend the passage of devotees to the annual Amarnath Yatra towards the holy cave in south Kashmir from the Jammu base camp. “Work on clearance of roads is going on and the highway is expected to reopen soon,” the official said.
The Srinagar-Leh highway was also closed for vehicular movement after fresh mudslides, triggered by rain, occurred in the Kullan Gund area in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
The traffic is diverted through the link road at Kullan. “Men and machinery have been pressed into service to restore the highway,” officials said.
Authorities have sounded an alert asking people to remain cautious after the rise in water level in the Chenab river following nightlong rainfall.
Officials said that the water level of Chenab, recorded at 9.15 am, was at the danger mark level. They said that due to nightlong rainfall in the Jammu province, all the tributaries to the Chenab river got flooded. They added that at 8.15 am, the water level in Chenab river was 32 feet which increased to 35 feet at 9.15 am.
The officials further informed that the alert mark for the water level in the river is 32 feet while 35 feet is the danger mark, at which the river is flowing currently.