As vehicular traffic remained suspended for the second consecutive day on the Jammu–Srinagar highway pending clearance of massive landslides, Army and police teams, on Thursday, rescued more than 100 migratory shepherds who were stranded at high pastures because of unseasonal snowfall and incessant rains across Jammu and Kashmir. Weather opened up in most parts of the union territory, but apprehensions of fresh landslides persisted.
An Army team among others rescued four children with a high fever who were stranded near Chhut pass due to a snow storm. Meals and warm clothing were also provided to them.
Fifty people stranded at 12,400 ft high Sinthan Pass were rescued and brought safely to Kishtwar by a joint team of Army, police, and district administration.
Police in south Kashmir’s Shopian rescued 27 members (including women and children) of the migratory tribe who were caught in a snow storm in the high pastures of Kund Panjrikhal Keller.
Army teams had on Wednesday rescued more than 300 people, including 100 women and children, stranded at various points on the highway that got blocked on Tuesday evening due to sudden rains.
Single lane of the road at Battery Chashma in the Ramban section of the highway was cleared for traffic in the afternoon and Srinagar bound vehicles were allowed to proceed.
Several trucks and vehicles were damaged at this stretch due to landslides and shooting stones on Wednesday and in the evening of Tuesday.
Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Mussarat Islam was personally monitoring mud-slide clearance in T2 tunnel near Kela Morh on the highway. Slush and mud has blocked the tunnel.
The district administration of Ramban provided food and shelter to the stranded travelers.
More than 1000 loaded Kashmir-bound trucks and vehicles carrying tourists and locals were stranded on the highway since Tuesday evening.
Traffic Police said that a major landslide near Dewal bridge has damaged 100 to 125 meters of both tubes of the highway. The highway is also blocked at Cafeteria Morh and T2 tunnel near Ramban. Work on reopening the highway was progressing.
Traffic has also been stopped on roads from Jammu to Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Gool, Banihal, Srinagar and vice-versa, said an officer of traffic police.
He advised people not to travel on these routes until the highway was cleared and restored for traffic movement.