Srinagar, Jan 6:  Srinagar-Jammu national highway and the historical Mughal Road were closed for vehicular traffic due to landslides, shooting of stones and heavy accumulation of snow , officials said on Thursday

Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only surface link road connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was closed for vehicular traffic following landslides, mud sliding and shooting of stones occurring at various places in Ramban sector due to incessant rains, traffic officials said.

The number of vehicles stranded on the highway at various places including in the Ramban sector are being evacuated to safer places, they added.

They said, more than a foot of snow has accumulated at Qazigund and Banihal road on the highway. The snow clearance operation could not be taken up due to the slippery road conditions. The weather at present is overcast, they said.

Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road connecting Ladakh highway is also closed due to the accumulation of snow on the road. About two feet of snow has accumulated on the road, they said and added, snow clearance operation is going on to make the road traffic worthy.

The historical Mughal Road connecting Shopian district in south Kashmir to Rajouri in Jammu division remained closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy accumulation of snow. The road was closed on December 23 last year following heavy snowfall at Bafliaz and Peer Ki Gali on the road. Snow clearance operations could not be taken up due to the slippery road conditions, they said.

Many far-flung roads in Kashmir valley also remained closed due to the accumulation of snow.

The weather has improved since this morning in the Kashmir valley with an overcast sky and low visibility.

“Traffic update Jammu-Srinagar NHW (NH-44) closed for vehicular movement due to landslides/mudslides and shooting stones at several places on NH-44, Mughal road , SSG road and Sinthan road closed due to snow accumulation @JmuKmrPolice”, a traffic police tweet said.
UNI