Heavy snowfall in J&K blocks key Mughal Road, 19 rescued

Pir Panchal Range and higher reaches in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir received another spell of heavy snowfall, leading to the closure of roads and disruption of normal life.

Fresh snowfall resulted in the closure of alternate highways between Kashmir and Jammu, known as Mughal Road. Moreover, the Army has rescued 19 people, including a minor, trapped on Mughal Road during the night hours.

Officials said that the Army and police after hours of trekking rescued 19 civilians including a minor and they were given all the possible help on Friday to move to their respective destinations.

An official spokesman said, “19 persons have been rescued by teams of police and Army from Pir Ki Gali area during a rescue operation last night.”

SSP Poonch Ramesh Angral told the media that after the rescue operation all the trapped persons were provided food and other logistic facilities at Poshana village.

Authorities as a precautionary measure on Friday closed the road for any vehicular traffic and said that it would be restored only if the weather conditions improved. In the past few days, there have been two heavy snowfalls in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir bringing cold waves to the plains also.