Over 1500 passengers stranded in Jammu

Jammu, Feb 7 (UNI) Over 1500 passengers were stranded at General Bus Stand here as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for the sixth consecutive day today due to uninterrupted snowfall, official sources said.

As the Valley remained cut off from the outer world for the last one week, over 100 passengers were stranded at the Jammu Bus Stand and its surrounding areas.

''I along with my mother returned from Delhi on Tuesday morning after she got her medical check up done But we got struck here.

Limited amount has left with us to spend on food and there seems to be no hope of opening of the National Highway shortly,'' Mushtaq Ahmed from Anantnag, Srinagar told UNI.

Meanwhile, expressing ire over the attitude of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, the passengers yesterday shouted slogans against the authorities for no adequate arrangements made for them.

The passengers also alleged hike in essential commodities and hotel rents here.

''Special food and accommodation arrangements have been made for the stranded passengers today. Free meal is being served to them at the Bus Stand as it may take another couple of days to resume traffic on the 300-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway,'' an official said.

Around 400 vehicles including passenger vehicles, were stranded at Batal Morh in Udhampur district and near Ramban district, the official added.

Continuous snowfall for the last four days has thrown normal life out of gear while avalanche threats have been sounded in Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI VBH KD RN1506