SRINAGAR : Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, suspended for the past two days due to landslides and soil erosion following heavy rains, was partially resumed today.
However, vehicles , particularly those carrying Amarnath pilgrims, who were stranded at base camp in Jammu, for the past two days, were allowed to move toward Kashmir, a traffic police official said this afternoon.
He said one-way traffic from Jammu to Srinagar was resumed after majority vehicles, stranded at different places on the highway, were cleared.
However, no vehicle will be allowed from Kashmir to Jammu, earlier, it was decided that highway will remain closed today also to allow proper repair of the road damaged due to the landslides and soil erosion at several places, particularly in Sheri Udhampur, where a portion of road has been washed away.
The highway was closed on August 8 following landslides and soil erosion due to heavy rain at Sheri Udhampur in Jammu region, affecting Amarnath yatra also.
However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway and District administration Udhampur immediately swung into action and put into service sophisticated machines and men to clear the landslides and repaire the road which was partially washed away.
Traffic was restored partially on August 8 but was again closed later in the night following fresh landslides.
Yesterday, traffic was partially restored again in the evening and hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers were allowed to move towards their respective destinations.
This year traffic on the Kashmir highway frequently witnessed disruption due to landslides and soil erosion. It is for the first time that only light vehicles are allowed from both sides and heavy vehicles are still plying on alternate days on the highway even during summers. However, heavy vehicles carrying Amarnath pilgrims are being allowed to ply from both sides.
However, the national highway, connecting the Ladakh region with Kashmir and the historic Mughal road, linking Shopian in south valley with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region are through. (AGENCIES)
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