KISHTWAR: More than 30 light motor vehicles were stranded after moderate snowfall at Sinthan Top and Margan Top in Kishtwar district on Sunday, prompting a joint rescue operation by police and the civil administration, officials said.
The vehicles got stuck due to fresh snowfall and slippery road conditions at the high-altitude passes, disrupting traffic movement on the road connecting Kishtwar in Jammu with south Kashmirโs Anantnag district, they said.
Officials said that soon after receiving information, teams of the police, the Indian Army and the civil administration rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation to ensure the safety of the stranded passengers.
Snow clearance machines were pressed into service from both the Kishtwar and Anantnag sides, and efforts were underway to shift all vehicles to safer locations, they said.
All passengers were safe and were being assisted by the rescue teams, while continuous snowfall and low temperatures were making the operation challenging, officials added.
Authorities have advised commuters to avoid travel on the SinthanโMargan stretch of the road until weather conditions improve and the route is declared safe for movement.
Meanwhile, traffic on the Mughal Road connecting the border districts of Poonch district and Rajouri district in Jammu with south Kashmirโs Shopian district was also suspended on Sunday evening due to fresh snowfall at Pir Ki Gali and adjoining areas, officials said.
