Flights cancelled, 400 vehicles stranded on highway

Srinagar: Kashmir Valley on Monday was cut-off from rest of the world due to the heavy snowfall and incessant rains leading to the closure of the vital Srinagar-Jammu highway besides affecting air traffic.
Reports reaching said that heavy snowfall and incessant overnight rains lashed the vital road link connecting Valley with other states for the second running day today rendering the road link unsafe for the movement of vehicular traffic. Over 400 vehicles, including 30-40 passenger buses and light motor vehicles were stranded at various places along the highway at Ramban, Ramsoo, Panthal, Banihal and Digdol.
Reports said landslides occurred at Panthal, Nashri, Ramban, Banihal and other places on the highway. Beacon, the agency responsible for the maintenance of the only surface link connecting Valley with rest of the world, were making efforts to clear the highway from the landslides.
The snowfall and incessant rains also cut off Poonch-Rajouri, Doda-Baderwah and Kishtwar-Batote highway.
“The highway has been closed due to landslides at several places. However, no vehicles are stranded. The highway will also remain closed for vehicular traffic tomorrow,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), highways, Kifayat Haider told.
“The heavy snowfall and rains are hampering the restoration work on the highway. No movement of vehicles will be allowed, unless highway is cleared,” he added.
Meanwhile, snowfall and poor visibility also affected the air traffic as incoming and outgoing flights were suspended at the Srinagar International airport. Some of the Valley bound flights were diverted to the winter capital.
“All flights cancelled due to poor visibility. No flight landed or took from Srinagar International airport,” an official of a private airliner told.