JAMMU, Feb 27: In separate incidents related to heavy rainfall, two individuals, including a young boy, lost their lives as the higher elevations of Jammu experienced snowfall, while the lower regions endured downpours for the second consecutive day on Thursday, according to officials.
In the evening, traffic along the Jammu-Srinagar highway was halted due to rockslides occurring in multiple areas, and several avalanches affected the upper sections of Kishtwar district without causing any reported damage, the officials noted.
A boulder struck a sports utility vehicle (SUV) near Dherian Ziyarat in the Surankote area on the Jammu-Poonch national highway, resulting in the death of the vehicle’s driver, according to officials.
Additionally, officials reported that a 14-year-old boy drowned while trying to navigate across a swollen stream close to his residence in Sangore-Tuli within Reasi district.
A traffic department spokesperson stated that all forms of vehicular traffic were suspended at 7 pm from both directions on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway due to persistent heavy rainfall and rockslides occurring in various locations between Nashri and Banihal in Ramban district.
Avalanches were reported in Beighpura-Kamsui village in the Inderwal area and Pinjari near Dachhan in Kishtwar district, although no damage was reported, the officials confirmed, adding that the higher altitudes of Kishtwar, Ramban, and Doda districts experienced moderate snowfall.
