NH turns dangerous, 11 hurt in shooting stones

Injured in shooting stones on National Highway, a woman undergoing treatment at Ramban hospital. -Excelsior/Parvez Mir
Injured in shooting stones on National Highway, a woman undergoing treatment at Ramban hospital. -Excelsior/Parvez Mir

Fresh snowfall on hills, one dies of cold

Fayaz Bukhari/Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Feb 5: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has turned more dangerous with every passing day as today at least 11 passengers were injured after they were hit by shooting stones at Ramsu this evening, one person died of cold while higher reaches in Kashmir and parts of Jammu region received light rain and snowfall.
A senior police official told the Excelsior that a Tavera vehicle No. JK03B/ 7342 which was on way to Jammu from Srinagar was trapped in the shooting stones at Mom Passi near Police Station, Ramsu at around 7.05 pm this evening. The vehicle also suffered extensive damage and 11 passengers travelling in the vehicle received injuries.
Immediately after this incident, police swung into action, rescued the passengers and shifted them to Ramban hospital after providing first aid at Ramsu. The condition of trio was said to be serious and they were rushed to GMC Hospital Jammu for head injuries.
The vehicle was being driven by Mohd Shafi, son of Abdul Salam, resident of Kuchipora in Anantnag. Authorities suspended movement of the vehicles immediately after this incident for precautionary measures.
The injured were identified as Janki, wife of Vakil Shah, Hira Lal, son of Bejinder Singh, Vakil Shah, son of Dev Shah, Abhimanyu, son of Vakil Shah and Danish, son of Ram Saran. They are said to be seriously injured. The other injured are Kanta, wife of Gudu Yadav, Gudu Yadav, son of Dorak Yadav, Sanjeet Singh, Krish, son of Guddu Yadav, Chhotu and Sumit, son of Guddu, all residents of Bihar.
Earlier, during early hours, the highway was closed due to landslides at Digdol near Ramban at around 5.30 am. The movement of the vehicles was stalled. The authorities cleared the blockade at around 10.30 am and allowed the movement of vehicles towards Jammu.
Meanwhile, hills of Kashmir received light snowfall this evening with Gulmarg recording one inch fresh snow. A Meteorological Department official said that Kashmir valley would receive fresh snowfall from midnight or Wednesday morning. “There is possibility of moderate snowfall from midnight or Wednesday morning till next three days,” he said.
He added that plains would receive moderate snowfall from tonight while as higher reaches including Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Pir Panchal region would receive moderate to heavy snowfall. “The Western Disturbance is affecting Kashmir from this evening while as the intensity of WD is more towards Pir Panchal and other adjacent areas where the department is predicting moderate to heavy snowfall,” he said.
He said the temperature across Kashmir increased from last couple of days following the improvement in weather conditions while as MeT is expecting further dip in the temperature.
Srinagar recorded maximum of 10. 1 degree Celsius, nearly a degree above the normal for this time of the year. Srinagar also witnessed rise in night temperature with mercury settling at 0.2 degrees Celsius against minus 0.4 degrees Celsius from the normal for night for this time of the season .
The maximum temperature in Qazigund and Kokernag towns in south Kashmir rose to 9.8 degrees Celsius and 8.5 degrees Celsius, respectively. Gulmarg, the famous ski-resort in north Kashmir recorded maximum of 1.2 degree Celsius and a low of minus 5.0 degrees Celsius while the famous health resort of Pahalgam registered maximum of 4.7 Degrees Celsius and a minimum of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius.
Reports said that rain and light snowfall has been reported from higher reaches of Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and parts of Reasi and Udhampur this evening. It was cloudy weather in Jammu city this evening while during morning hours and noon it was a sunny day. The temperature has shown little improvement in Jammu for the last couple of days.
Another report said that a man from Haryana who was putting up in a tin shed for the last four years was found dead this morning. An official said that the body of Mahinder Pal Singh was spotted at Sumo stand Uri. He said Pal was residing in a tin shed from past four years and might have died due to cold.
Meanwhile, a Traffic official said that around 6000 vehicles today crossed the Jawahar Tunnel towards Jammu. These vehicles were stranded in Kashmir for last few days.

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