Jammu, Mar 14 (UNI) Although a sunny day greeted people of Jammu today, many intra-state roads continued to remain blocked due to landslides triggered by heavy rains and snowfall that claimed 17 lives, including five Vaishnodevi pilgrims.

The 300-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH A1) was still blocked at Panthayal, about 168 km from here, while there was no transport movement on several other roads connecting small and big towns in the state, official sources told UNI.

Five Vaishnodevi pilgrims died of cold on Monday taking the toll of flash floods and landslides victims due to rains and snowfall in the state to 17.

Life in Kashmir region also remained affected due to blockades on many roads. ''Even in Srinagar many small towns are still cutoff,'' the sources said.

''Road condition in the interiors of the Kashmir Valley is pathetic after the recent snowfall and rains,'' they added.

Power supply and telephone service were also snapped due to felling of trees at many places in the Valley.

In Kathua district, Bani to Basholi road was blocked while there was no vehicular movement on Thanamandi to the Dhera Ki Gali (DKG) road.

Roads connecting Bufliaz to the DKG and Cahndi Morh in Poonch were blocked, the sources said.

Similarily, roads from Udhampur to Chanani, Chenani to Latti, Ramnagar to Basantgarh, Mansar to Papper Moharana were also affected.

Many local intra-district routes connecting Bhaderwah and Kishtwar tehsils in the mountainous Doda district were blocked.

Roads clearing process was on to resume vehicular movement on NH A1 and other roads, sources added.

The state witnessed unprecedented heavy rains in the plains and snowfall in the upper reaches since Saturday night, which pressed mercury southwards bringing the temperature below normal.

UNI