SRINAGAR : Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying essentials and passengers, left Jammu for Kashmir valley while no vehicle was allowed from Srinagar as only one-way traffic continued on the national highway despite major improvement in the weather.
Meanwhile, Ladakh region remained cut off from the rest of the country though massive snow clearance operation has already been started on the highway, connecting the region with Kashmir.
The historic Mughal road and several other road communications leading to far-flung and remote areas, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), also remained closed due to accumulation of snow since January.
“We have allowed traffic today from Jammu to Srinagar on the highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country,” a traffic police official said.
He said since only one-way traffic will continue on the highway, no vehicle will be allowed from Srinagar to Jammu, including Army and paramilitary forces today.
Though the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) are working to repair the damaged portion of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, only one-way traffic is allowed for the past three months.
“Hundreds of trucks, carrying essentials, particularly fresh vegetables, chicken, meat, left different parts of Jammu this morning for Kashmir,” he said.
Besides, he said passenger vehicles also left for Srinagar. Meanwhile, the BEACON authorities are working on a war-footing on both sides of the Zojila pass to clear snow and put through the highway, connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir.
Similarly, snow clearance is also going on to reopen the historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, which remained closed for the past three months due to snow. Even though authorities had asserted that the highway will be opened on April 15, several feet of snow remain accumulated at some places on the road, which is seen as an alternative to the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
Dozens of village, including near the LoC in Machil sector, remained cut off from district headquarters due to accumulation of several feet of snow. (AGENCIES)