* MeT forecasts rain in next 36 hrs
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 14: The traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained disrupted for about 13 hours since last mid night while Meteorological Department has predicted moderate rain in many parts of J&K in next 36 hours.
Reports from Ramban said that landslides during last mid night in Mehar area blocked the highway. It disrupted the movement of vehicles coming back from Kashmir side after delivering essential commodities till morning. A large number of oil and LPG tankers were also stranded between Ramban and Banihal.
The National Highway authorities started clearance operation and restored the highway at around 10 am and then movement of vehicles was resumed. After clearing stranded vehicles towards Jammu side, then the trucks and tankers loaded with essential commodities were released for Kashmir valley from Chanderkote and Nashri areas by the Traffic Police authorities.
During noon and afternoon again, the highway was blocked at Cafeteria Morh and Mehar near Ramban. Actually, the road widening work is in progress round the clock in this belt of Ramban. The blockade has become the order of the day. Then for early clearance of the highway, the Mulba is dumped in river Chenab by the construction companies. Between 12 noon and 6.30 pm today, the movement of vehicular traffic remained disrupted in this sector for about three hours. This area has become dangerous and accident prone due to ongoing 4-laning work and frequent falling of bounders even during fair weather conditions.
DySP Traffic Ramban sector, Ajay Anand said highway was blocked in Mehar and Cafeteria Morh areas at around 12 mid night. The highway could be restored at around 10 am today. The movement of vehicles was then allowed. But again after two hours the road was blocked and then cleared. Then the spree of disruption went on till late this evening. At least three hours disruption was witnessed till evening at these two places since mid day.
Anand said the trucks and tankers loaded with essential supplies to Kashmir remained stranded for long due to this disruption. In the evening, the movement of vehicles towards Kashmir was being allowed, he maintained.
Meanwhile, a MeT spokesman said that entire northern region was overcast with clouds and moderate rain is expected in many areas of Jammu and Kashmir in next 36 hours. He said wind storm is also expected in some plain areas of Jammu region. He predicted good rain on Thursday in most of the areas in Kashmir and parts of Jammu.
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