The Srinagar-Jammu Highway was reopened for traffic today, four days after landslides due to rains and snow had forced its closure.
“The Srinagar-Jammu Highway has been opened for traffic today as the road was cleared off the debris due to landslides at various places,” an official of the Traffic Control Room said.
He said one-way traffic was allowed on the highway this morning after all the stranded vehicles were allowed to proceed yesterday.
“Late yesterday, many stranded vehicles were allowed to proceed further, but only one-way traffic – from Srinagar to Jammu – was allowed today,” the official said.
Landslides at various places on Thursday had led to the closure of the nearly 300-km highway – the only all weather road link connecting Kashmir Valley.
The landslides were triggered by rains and snowfall witnessed across the Valley last week.
Meanwhile, the weather stayed dry across the Valley last night but the Meteorological Department has forecast isolated to scattered rains or snowfall in the state over the next 24 hours.
The night temperature in the Valley, except in the high altitude areas, settled above the freezing point with Srinagar – the summer capital of the state – registering a low of 0.9 degree Celsius – over a degree up from minus 0. 2 degree Celsius the previous night, a spokesman of the Meteorological Department here said.
Meanwhile, Four passengers were killed and five others injured when the vehicle they were traveling in skidded off the road and rolled down into a deep ravine near Digdol area of Ramban district on Srinagar-Jammu Tuesday.
Police said the Tavera taxi (JK03D-0989) with eight passengers on board including two women and two children was on way to Jammu from Kashmir.
Three persons including the driver were killed on the spot. Another person succumbed to injuries on way to District Hospital Ramban.
Eyewitnesses told Kashmir Post that the driver failed to control the vehicle in a bid to escape the shooting stones coming from a hillock.
“We have received four bodies, among them one is of a woman. The five injured persons include one woman and two children,” Medical Superintendent District Hospital Ramban, Dr Saifudin Khan, told Kashmir Post. He described the condition of two children and the woman as critical, adding that all five injured persons have been referred to Srinagar hospitals.
SHO Ramban Inspector Naveen Angral identified the deceased as driver Mohammad Yousaf Magray (31) resident of Badipora, Hakeem Rauf (40) son of Gulam Nabi Hakeem resident of Gassepora Wanpoh, Qaziqund Anantnag, Sayeena Begum (36) wife of Altaf Hussain resident of Nagbal Areshipora tehsil Chitergam Shopian and Abdul Rasheed Sheikh (44) son of Abdul Aziz Sheikh resident of Khrew Pulwama.
Five injured passengers have been identified as Javeed Ahmed (40) son of Gulam Mohammad resident of Diyalgam Anantnag, Shabir Ahmed (35) son of Mohammad Yousaf, Lali Begum (30) wife of Shabir Ahmed and Muzain (8) son of Altaf Hussain, all residents of Areshipora Shopian.
Governor N.N. Vohra has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the road accident.
In a condolence message the Governor has conveyed his sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls. He has wished speedy recovery to the persons injured in this accident.
The Raj Bhavan spokesperson said that the Governor has expressed deep concern over the recurring road accidents and re-iterated that every concerned agency should be held accountable for strictly enforcing regulations regarding overloading, over-speeding, condemnation of unfit vehicles and punitive summary fines to be paid by the offenders. He noted that no unqualified and unlicensed person should be allowed to drive any personal, transport or commercial vehicle.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has also expressed shock and grief over the deaths.
Mehbooba Mufti has sympathized with those injured in the accident and directed the Ramban district administration to provide all support to them in their medical treatment.
The Chief Minister has directed the Traffic authorities to ensure strict maintenance of traffic rules on the Highway and elsewhere so that such unfortunate incidents don’t take place.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident.
President National Conference Dr Farooq Abdullah and Working President Omar Abdullah have expressed grief over the loss of lives in the road mishap.
Dr Abdullah and Omar Abdullah have conveyed their condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls. They also wished speedy recovery to the injured.
Provincial President National Conference Jammu, Devender Singh Rana, has also conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls.
Srinagar-Jammu Highway reopens after 4 days, 4 Killed, 5 Injured in accident near Ramban
