SRINAGAR : The Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) will ply from Jammu to Srinagar while Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) from opposite direction on the highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country on Tuesday, a traffic police spokesman said this afternoon.
However, the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh remained cut off from the Kashmir valley for the eighth day on Tuesday following closure of the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway due to accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions.
The historic 86-km-long Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region also remained shut for the eight day on Tuesday due to slippery road conditions and accumulation of snow though weather has witnessed improvement.
Spokesman said LMVs will on Tuesday ply from Jammu to Srinagar. However, vehicles had to cross Nagrota between 0500 hrs to 1000 hrs and Jakheni Udhampur between 0600 hrs to 1100 hrs only, he said adding no vehicle will be allowed after cut off timing.
He said HMVs will be allowed to ply from Zig, Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir, towards Jammu. Security forces are also advised to ply from Srinagar to Jammu and not to violate traffic advisory.
The commuters are advised to follow Standard Operating Procedure (SPO) issued by the government to prevent spread of COVID-19. He said a massive snow clearance operation was going on from both sides of the Zojila pass to put through the national highway, the only road linking UT of Ladakh with Kashmir, a traffic official said.
He said traffic on the highway was suspended on Tuesday last due to two to eight feet of snowfall between Sonamarg, Zojila, Zero point, India Gate, Meenamarg and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia.
The road has also become very slippery due to minus 10 degree to 17 degree minimum temperature, he said. However, despite below freezing temperature, the Border Roads Organisation, responsible for the maintenance of the highway, has pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to clear the snow.
The authorities had announced to keep the highway open till end of this month to store more essentials in Ladakh, which remained cut off from rest of the country due to heavy snowfall. Meanwhile, the authorities have decided to operate Pawan Hans helicopter service between Srinagar and Kargil for the stranded passengers this winter.
Snow on Mughal road, particularly between both sides of the Pir-ki-Gali, remained frozen due to below freezing temperature during the night. Snow clearance operation has been launched but traffic could not be restored so far, he said.
The road, which is seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu highway, remains shut during winter months due to heavy snowfall. (agencies)
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