Kashmir highway remains closed due to landslides
Srinagar, Apr 19 : The National Highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, remained closed for the second day on Friday due to landslides, a traffic police official said.
The Srinagar-Leh National Highway and historic Mughal road besides Anantnag-Kishtwar road remained closed since November last year though snow clearance operations were going on a war footing to make them traffic worthy.
Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was suspended yesterday afternoon following landslides and shooting stones at Batery Cheshma and two other places between Ramban and Ramsu. However, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, immediately put into service sophisticated machine and men to put through traffic.
Traffic official told UNI that some Kashmir-bound vehicles were allowed to move after landslides were removed this morning. However, traffic was again suspended after fresh landslides and shooting stones, he said.
Only Kashmir-bound vehicles, stranded since yesterday will be allowed to move after receiving green signal, he said, adding that no fresh vehicle will be allowed from Srinagar or Jammu today.
There are over 2,500 vehicles, including trucks loaded with essentials like fresh vegetables, besides carrying passengers, stranded on the highway.
People stranded alleged that they could not even get a cup of tea where they were stopped after the highway was closed for traffic.
Snow clearance operation was going on a war footing on both sides of the Zojila pass on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway which connects Ladakh region with Kashmir. It is a matter of days now to allow traffic on the highway, official sources said.
Similarly, snow clearance operation was still going on 86-km-long historic Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch. The road, which is seen as alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu highway, was closed for traffic in November last year due to accumulation of five to ten feet snow.
UNI.