Highway connecting Ladakh with Kashmir reopens

SRINAGAR :  Traffic on the national highway, connecting Ladakh region with rest of the state resumed  for one-way following improvement in weather and clearance of  snow.
We allowed one-way traffic from Srinagar this morning on the 434-km-long highway, a traffic police official told UNI.    He said traffic on the highway was suspended on November 27 evening following light to moderate snowfall between Sonamarg- Zojilla and Meenmarg.
The road had become slippery after the snow on the road was froze and thus, forcing authorities to suspend the traffic as a precautionary measure.
However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintainance of the highway, pressed into service with sophisticated machines and men to put through the  traffic.
He said all stranded, including those carrying passengers on both sides of the Zojilla were cleared before the fresh traffic was allowed from Srinagar and Sonamarg. However, no vehicle was allowed from Drass, second coldest place in the world on other side of the Zojilla pass.    Only one-way traffic will be allowed on the highway till further orders, he said adding decision to close the highway for winter months depends upon weather conditions.    Meanwhile, authorities claimed to have stored all essentials commodities, including rice, sugar, flour, kerosene oil, LPG cylinders, petrol and diesel for winter months, when entire Ladakh region remains cut off due to heavy snowfall.
(AGENCIES)