Srinagar cut off as landslides amid heavy rain block highway

Landslides triggered by heavy rains blocked the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district of the Union Territory on Sunday bringing traffic to a complete halt and cutting off the Valley from the rest of the country.

Officials said efforts are being made to restore the highway.

Jammu city recorded 95.7 mm, Udhampur 92.6 mm, and Kathua 42.0 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Sunday. Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, witnessed 14 mm of rainfall.

Amid heavy rain through the night, several roadways were inundated and commuters stranded in various parts of the UT.

The weather office has forecast more rainfall at many places across the Union Territory in the next 48 hours with possibility of heavy showers at a few places in the Jammu region.