Jammu: Heavy rains continue in many areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The Meteorological Department has issued a warning of heavy rain today and tomorrow. Landslides are also taking place due to heavy in the hilly areas. Due to landslides, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Mughal Road and Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari (SSG) road have been blocked.
Ramban’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohita Sharma said on Twitter, “There has been a landslide on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in Ramban due to rain. This has closed the road. The work of removing the debris is going on.”
The yatra was suspended on Friday following widespread rain, particularly along the twin tracks — the traditional 48-kilometre Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-kilometre Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
“No fresh batch of yatris were allowed (to leave) from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp this morning in view of the suspension of the yatra in the Valley and the inclement weather,” a police official said.
On Friday, a batch of 4,600 pilgrims was stopped at Chanderkote along the national highway in Ramban district to avoid crowding at the Pahalgam base camp after the yatra’s temporary suspension.
All the pilgrims are safe and sheltering at halting stations along the route, the officials said, adding that the yatra will resume after the weather improves.
The Met office has predicted widespread moderate to heavy rain, accompanied by thundershowers, under the influence of monsoon winds and western disturbances across Jammu and Kashmir till Sunday.