NH opened after 11 hours of blockade
Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Nov 5: Two truck drivers stranded at Zojila Pass in Sonamarg area and 41 civilians were rescued by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) after remaining stranded un snow since Saturday while Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was thrown open late this evening after 11 hours of blockade.
SSP Traffic National Highway, Shakti Pathak told the Excelsior that landslides at Battery Chasma at 7.45 am this morning blocked the National Highway, leading to suspension of traffic, due to which large number of vehicles were stranded on the Highway.
Pathak said the highway was restored for traffic after landslides were cleared at 6.45 pm.
“We are clearing the stranded vehicles. Tomorrow also, the stranded vehicles will be cleared while Light Motor Vehicles will be allowed from Srinagar to Jammu,” Pathak added.
Over 100 passenger vehicles carrying Darbar Move employees and 250 trucks moved towards Jammu in the morning and 400 trucks left for Jammu this evening from Qazigund.
The snowfall on Saturday had disrupted traffic and blocked major roads in Kashmir valley. Many trucks were stranded on Srinagar-Leh road due to snowfall from Sonamarg to Matayan.
After snow clearance the stranded vehicles and their drivers were evacuated safely. However, they said that two truck drivers coming from Srinagar towards Leh got stranded for three days at Captain Morh at Zojila Pass. “They were stranded for last three days. After hectic efforts, their rescue could be possible,” said Brigadier Amit Singh Soham, Chief Engineer Project Vijayak Kargil.
The Chief Engineer said that BRO men started rescue operation at 6.30 today morning and after strenuous efforts the two drivers were rescued and evacuated safely. He said adding that about 50 trucks stranded have been moved back to Drass from Minamarg.
In Zojila area, there is 4-5 feet snow accumulation and besides multiple avalanches have struck the highway at many places. A BRO official said that they have pressed in men and machinery to clear snow and avalanches from the highway but it will take time.
And the district administration in Shopian evacuated 41 civilians from Mughal road, who were stranded due to inclement weather and snowfall. Besides, they were provided food and shelter in Shopian by the district administration.
In the aftermath of snowfall, the district administration has deployed rescue teams in all the affected areas of the district including Mughal road and all stranded passengers from Mughal road including truck drivers were taken to the Town Hall Municipal Committees Shopian.
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