Thousands Stranded in Jammu-Srinagar Highway After Landslides

Srinagar:

Thousands of people have been stranded in the Jammu-Srinagar highway for two days without food or water. The highway has been closed for the last three days after rains and snow caused landslides in the area.

More than one-foot deep snow had piled up on the road in the Banihal area, but it is landslides at several places along Udhampur- Ramban sector which have blocked the highway.

More than 2000 trucks carrying supplies and passenger vehicles are stranded. Passengers and truckers report multiple hardships.

"We have been without food and water for last two days. There is no grocery shop around even to buy anything," said Shabir Ahmad, a truck driver. "We request the government to at least send some water tankers."

The Valley witnessed uninterrupted day-long snowfall on Monday, which disrupted surface and air traffic and cut it off from the rest of India.

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Electric supply snapped at many places. Train service from Baramulla to Bannihal had to be suspended due to the accumulation of snow on the tracks.

With the weather conditions improving, officials say they may be able to clear a way for the stranded vehicles by this evening.

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On Sunday, landslides claimed the lives of three persons, one of them a woman.

"People living in avalanche prone areas of the valley have been advised to exercise extreme caution. People must avoid moving out of their homes in such areas," said an official from the disaster management office.