Srinagar, July 24 (IANS) The strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for the second consecutive day as all major Yatras in the union territory remained suspended for the 6th day on Friday.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remained closed due to intermittent landslides and shooting stones at multiple locations triggered by continuous rainfall.
Officials said clearance work is underway, but the highway has not yet been declared safe for traffic.
Commuters have been advised to avoid travelling in view of the possibility of further landslides and shooting stones.
Authorities also urged people not to pay heed to rumours and to check the official status of the road on the Traffic Police’s Twitter handle, Facebook page, and through Traffic Control Units.
Due to the blockade of the Jammu-Srinagar highway, Northern Railways operated a special train between Srinagar and Katra on Thursday, and 600 tourists travelled out of the Valley. The special train was operated by the Jammu Division on the directions of Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal to ensure safe and comfortable travel for stranded passengers, officials said.
The train departed from Srinagar railway station at 5.10 p.m. Thursday, halted at Banihal en route, and reached Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 8.15 p.m.
Railway officials said the special service was launched to ensure safe and timely travel for passengers, particularly those with onward rail connections from Katra and Jammu Tawi.
“Passenger convenience and safety are our top priorities. In view of the slow movement of road traffic, the division decided to operate the special train to ensure that passengers reach their destinations without inconvenience,” Singhal said.
Railway authorities advised passengers to check the latest train status through the NTES app, the IRCTC website or the 139 railway helpline before commencing their journey.
Officials said the Jammu Division has been operating special trains whenever required to ensure uninterrupted travel during adverse weather conditions.
Meanwhile, all major religious pilgrimages in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Shri Amarnath ji Yatra, Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra, and Shiv Khori Yatra, remained suspended for the sixth day on Friday due to adverse weather conditions, heavy rains, flash floods, and landslide risks.
The suspensions began following alerts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Heavy downpours, cloudbursts, and mudslides triggered a red alert and made the tracks unsafe. Thousands of devotees are held up across base camps, including locations in Pahalgam, Baltal, Jammu, and Katra. Movement along traditional pilgrimage paths and major arteries like the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway faces severe disruptions.
Officials have kept these Yatra movements halted until weather clearance and track restoration are finalised. Free food (langars) and shelter arrangements have been made for stranded pilgrims at various base camps.
–IANS
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