J-K highway closed, passengers escape unhurt in landslides

Banihal (J-K): Several passengers had a narrow escape after landslides triggered by heavy rains buried some vehicles on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, resulting in its blockade on Thursday.

Landslides occurred at several places between Banihal and Peera sectors of national highway, resulting in closure of the highway today, police officials said.

The landslides took place at Gungroo, Panthal, Khoni Nallah, Seri Karole and Peera on the highway and also sliding of rocks and stones from mountain tops in other stretches of the highway also occurred making the journey on the highway risky, they said.

Meanwhile, about three vehicles were partially buried under landslides at Ramsoo and Seri, they said, adding the passengers escaped narrowly without any injuries.

Flash floods hit Jammu, a Earth mover machine also gets submerged in water pic.twitter.com/XbjrznTQvU

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 25, 2015

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have started clearance of landslides on the highway stretches in these places but rains are making the task difficult, they said adding operation to clear the highway is on.

Due to closure of the highway, over 200 vehicles are stranded at various places en route the highway, they said.

Rail traffic suspended on Banihal-Qazigund section

Flooding of tracks in heavy rainfall has led to the suspension of rail services between

Banihal area of Jammu and Qazigund belt of Kashmir Valley, rail officials said.

Flood alert in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir pic.twitter.com/fJ43yyZnWa

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 25, 2015

The rail services were halted after the tracks suffered damage in flooding near Hillar area of Qazigund belt today, Station Master Railways, Banihal, Baseer Ahmed said.

Work is on at Hillar to repair the damage, he said, adding that the restoration of the track will be done by this evening.

Rail traffic between the Qazigund and Baramulla sections in Kashmir Valley, meanwhile, are continuing smoothly, he added.