Jammu: Over 600 passengers were stranded at Banihal due to closure of the national highway in the wake of snowfall and rains that lashed several parts of Jammu and Kashmir since January 30, a police spokesman said.

As many as 138 vehicles, including 50 light motor vehicles and some buses, were stranded at Banihal, he said, adding efforts were being made to clear the Banihal- Jawahar tunnel – Qazigund axis to enable the vehicles to reach their respective destinations.

The vehicular traffic was not allowed on January 31 from the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu due to closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway at Qazigund, Jawahar tunnel, Banihal and Patnitop.

The men and machines of Border Roads Organisation were pressed into service to make the arterial road traffic worthy, he said.

Meanwhile, Jammu city and its surrounding areas continued to receive heavy rains till January 31 morning.

Reports of fresh snowfall have also been received from mountainous area, including Patnitop and Vaishnodevi in Jammu division and famous hill resorts of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg in Kashmir valley, besides peripherial areas of Pir Panjal range of Himalayas falling in Pulwama and Anantnag districts.

PTI