SRINAGAR: In occupied Kashmir, the Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only surface link of the Kashmir valley with the rest of the world, remained closed for the third day, today, due to snowfall and landslide in Ramban district.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the huge landslide in Digdol had blocked the highway on Thursday. It was fourth big landslide since November 7.
“It is raining heavily in Ramban district and as a result restoration operations are getting affected but men and machinery are at it and the debris will soon be cleared,” said JS Johar, Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Jammu-Srinagar highway.
He said that around 2,500 vehicles, mostly trucks, had been left stranded at various places on the highway.
The Mughal Road, which connects the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region with Shopian district in south Kashmir, continued to remain closed for the 11th consecutive day, today.
The road, which usually remains closed during the winter months, was closed on November 6 after high altitude areas including Pir Ki Gali experienced first major snowfall of the season.
The local meteorological department has predicted dry weather in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir for the next two days.
Amid lockdown, rains, snowfall add to the miseries of IOK people
In occupied Kashmir, the increasing chill after fresh rains and snowfall has added to the miseries of the people of Kashmir Valley who have already been suffering immensely due to strict military siege since August 5.
According to Kashmir Media Service, due to continued lockdown, people could not stock essential commodities for the harsh winter – a centuries-old practice as Srinagar-Jammu Highway, the only surface link of the territory remains closed for most of the season.
The situation in Kashmir Valley and Muslim majority areas of Jammu and Ladakh regions is far from the normal for 104th consecutive day, today, as anger runs high among the masses against India over its move of repealing special status of occupied Kashmir and putting the territory under military siege.
There is no let up in the restrictions imposed under Section 144 in the territory amid massive deployment of Indian troops in every nook and corner of the occupied territory. The ban on internet, text messaging and prepaid mobile connections remains in force and the restoration of some communications restrictions, such as landline phones and postpaid mobile services, could not provide any respite to the people
The residents of Valley continue to show their resentment against New Delhi by observing civil disobedience over its anti-Kashmir moves. As part of this movement, the shopkeepers keep their shops closed in most part of the day while students are not attending the educational institutions. The offices are also witnessing a very thin attendance.
Read more: United Nation’s OHCHR urges India to restore peace in occupied Kashmir
