MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The main highway connecting Muzaffarabad and Rawalpindi at Dolai, and the main highway in Neelum Valley at various places, were closed due to landslides on Monday.
According to the Highway Department, machinery and staff are currently busy clearing the road. However, due to continuous rain since last night, the slide continues, the department said.
Moreover, the Sharda-Kel road has also been closed due to a landslide. In Upper Neelum, rain continues in Athmuqam, Keran, Kutton, Sharda, Kel, and Gurez Valley since last night.
Due to heavy landslides across the Neelum district, the Neelum main highway connecting Kel, Seri from Sharda, and Kutton to Kundal Shahi Road is also closed.
Neelum Highways Department said that machinery has left for road restoration. Citizens and tourists should avoid unnecessary travel during rain, said the district administration.
Earlier today, the highway authorities said that the road from Sharda to Sargan Valley Bagno has been reopened for traffic.
Furthermore, traffic was also disrupted on Toli Peer Road in the Rawalakot district due to a landslide.
In addition to that, protestors have blocked the road in Union Council Anwar Sharif and Charakpura in Muzaffarabad against the unjust killing of the late Bashir Mughal.
The protest said that it will continue for an indefinite period until the killers are arrested.
Person dies in Bagh
One person was swept away while crossing a rainwater drain in the Padar area of Azad Kashmir’s Bagh district on Monday, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).
The situation report issued by SDMA said that a person, identified as Abdul Rehman, died by slipping while crossing the Nullah Mahal.
It said that the person was pulled out of the drain in an injured condition by locals, but he could not survive. “The body of the deceased person was handed over to his heirs,” said the SDMA.
Furthermore, the SDMA report stated that a landslide triggered by continuous rainfall has caused a potential threat to five houses at Zero Point in Muzaffarabad.
District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Muzaffarabad has shifted the inhabitants of affected houses to safer places, it said.
