Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: 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 July 24.
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.
