Ramban: The Mehar-Cafeteria segment of Ramban on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was blocked for two hours on Saturday morning after a strong rainstorm.
Heavy rains triggered mudslides and flying stones on the Mehar-Cafeteria section of Ramban and Mom Passi Ramsu, disrupting Srinagar-Jammu National Highway traffic, officials said. NHAI rapidly repaired the highway for stalled traffic using workers and machines.
Mudslides and firing stones on Mehar-Cafeteria and Mom Passi Ramsu in Ramban halted Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for 1 hour, 35 minutes, according to traffic police.
After removing landslides and stones, hundreds of vehicles carrying Amarnath pilgrims, tourists, private automobiles, and light and medium passenger vehicles crossed Ramban in a controlled way.
Officials said that 2515 Pahalgam-bound Amarnath pilgrims who arrived from Jammu today were stopped at Chanderkote, while 957 Baltal-bound pilgrims were allowed to continue after the highway was reopened. “However, Pahalgam route Amarnath Yatris, who were already stranded at Chanderkote, were allowed to proceed today after a night halt,” they said.
Due to slick roads at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria, Mom Passi, and other single-lane roads, travel was delayed.
They said that significant vehicle breakdowns between Nashri and Banihal slowed traffic.
Meanwhile, traffic officials issued an advisory for Sunday allowing Amarnath pilgrims and other passenger light-medium cars to drive on either side of the roadway under excellent weather and road conditions.
On Sunday, big trucks from Qazigund, Kashmir, could enter Jammu.
