SRINAGAR:The National Highway, connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country was today closed again due to fresh landslides, triggered by heavy overnight rains, following which hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying Amarnath pilgrims, got stranded at different places.
Though vehicles, carrying Amarnath pilgrims, left Jammu this morning for Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps, but there were again landslides at several places between Ramban and Ramsu, a traffic police official told UNI. The vehicles have been stopped at Kud and other places, where they are being provided every facility.
Hundreds of Jammu-bound vehicles, including those carrying passengers and tourists, have been stopped at Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir, Anantnag and Jawahar tunnel for the second day today.
He said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has already pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to clear the landslides. However, due to overnight rain, there was still chances of more landslides and the sky was also very cloudy. He said as and when the highway will be put through, vehicles carrying pilgrims will be allowed to move first.
The highway was closed yesterday morning due to landslides and mudslides at several places. However, the highway was later put through for one-way and only yatra vehicles from Jammu to Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps were allowed to move.
Official sources said hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying essentials for the Kashmir valley, are stranded at different places as only yatra vehicles were allowed yesterday when the highway was put through.
Decision to allow traffic will be allowed only after receiving green signal from the BRO and traffic police personnel deployed on the highway, officials said.
The highway remained frequently closed this winter due to landslides and soil erosion. However, later, authorities allowed only one-way traffic to avoid traffic jam and accidents as the road was very narrow at several places and only one vehicle could pass. After about five months, one-way, two way traffic for light vehicles was allowed from last month but heavy vehicles were plying on alternate days from Jammu and Srinagar. However, keeping in view the rush of Amarnath pilgrims, it was decided to allow heavy vehicles carrying yatris from both sides on the highway from July 1. (AGENCIES)
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