NH connecting Kashmir Valley and Srinagar-Leh highway opened for traffic despite rain

SRINAGAR :  Despite rain the national highway, connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country and 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway was through for traffic.
However, only one-way traffic is allowed on the Kashmir highway  and at Zojila pass while Ladakh was through for both ways.
The historic Mughal road, linking the Shopian in South Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region was also open for one-way despite rain since this morning.
Official sources said that hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers and essential supplies for the valley left different parts of  Jammu this morning.
Despite rain we allowed traffic on the highway, which is open for only one-way for the last five months as the road has been damaged due to soil erosion and landslides at several places, the sources also said.
Sources also said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintainance of the highway has been working to repair the damaged portion of the road and put it through for both ways before the start of the annual Amarnath pilgrimage from July 2.
The state government has already taken up the matter of the highway with the central government besides Director General of BRO to allow free plying of vehicles from both sides.    Meanwhile, two vehicles skidded off the road at Dogra Mode and Banihal area in which three persons were injured today. The injured have been hospitalized.
A traffic police official said vehicle, which left Jammu this morning, are on way to Kashmir.    He said traffic will ply from Srinagar to Jammu tomorrow subject to road and weather conditions. However, he said drivers are requested to contact Traffic Police Control Room before starting journey on the highway.
The highway remained frequently closed during this winter, particularly in the month of March and April due to landslides and soil erosion, leading to acute shortage of essentials, particularly vegetables in the valley. The prices of vegetables and other essentials shoots up because of frequent closure of the highway.
The historic Mughal road is  opened for only one-way because the road is very narrow at some places because of huge walls of snow on both sides.
The road reopened last month after remaining closed for five winter months.   He said vehicles will ply from Srinagar to Jammu on this  road today.
The Srinagar-Leh National highway was also through for both ways. However, vehicles will ply on rotation at Zojila pass as only one vehicle could pass the area because of snow on both sides of the road. (AGENCIES)

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