Rahul Gandhi Halts Yatra Amid Landslides In Jammu And Kashmir

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has paused his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir due to poor weather conditions and landslides, the party informed today. The footmarch will resume Friday morning while tomorrow will be a rest day.

"Due to poor weather conditions and landslides in the area, the afternoon leg of #BharatJodoYatra in Ramban & Banihal has been cancelled. Tomorrow is a rest day and the Yatra will resume day after, January 27th at 8am," said senior leader Jairam Ramesh in a tweet.

Mr Gandhi was seen wearing a jacket amid rain as his yatra began from Ramban on foot towards Kashmir under heavy security cover. He and his supporters were expected to reach Banihal this evening, mostly in vehicles due to the topography of the route, weather and security reasons.

The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed due to landslides and shooting stones in Ramban district this morning. The highway will be cleared and opened after the weather conditions improve, said officials.

Heavy rainfall and incidents of shooting stones continue to be reported at Panthyal and other vulnerable areas on the stretch between Ramban and Banihal. Ramban also witnessed snowfall.

A truck driver was killed and three others were injured after boulders hit two trucks on the highway.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which reached Jammu on Monday and Ramban yesterday amid rain and snowfall forecast, is scheduled to conclude in Srinagar on January 30. Actor Urmila Matondkar, a Shiv Sena member who quit Congress after a brief stint in 2019, was among the prominent persons who joined the yatra yesterday in Jammu and Kashmir.