SRINAGAR, Feb 9 (2005) – At least 3,000 people were stranded on a key mountain highway in Indian Kashmir after heavy snowfall triggered avalanches, police said on Wednesday.
They said the 300-km (190-mile) highway connecting the Himalayan state’s summer capital, Srinagar, with winter capital Jammu remained closed for the third day on Wednesday.
“Heavy and continuous snowfall is making road clearance difficult. The met office has warned of more avalanches along the highway,” a traffic police official told Reuters.
He said 500 to 600 vehicles were stranded on the highway, which connects the Kashmir valley to rest of the India.
An avalanche killed six Indian soldiers guarding a tunnel on the highway on Monday.
Authorities say at least 1,500 people have been shifted to shelters, government buildings and private houses along the highway.
