SRINAGAR : One-way traffic for light vehicles was this morning resumed on the national highway, linking the Kashmir valley the rest of the country, after remaining suspended since last evening due to landslides, triggered by heavy rain.
However, the national highway, connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir and historic Mughal road besides Bandipora-Gurez road remained closed since December last year.
A traffic police official said here that traffic on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was suspended last evening following landslides at Penthal, Ramband,Ramsu and other areas due to heavy rain.
However, he said, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway immediately pressed into service sophisticated machine and men to put through the highway.
He said though it was still raining at some places, the highway was now open for one-way traffic. “We have allowed only light vehicles, including those carrying passengers, to move from Jammu to Srinagar,” he said, adding that decision to allow heavy vehicle from winter capital and vehicles from Kashmir will depend upon the weather and road conditions.
Passengers who were stranded on other side of the Penthal said they are stranded since last evening and there was no arrangement for any food or shelter.
Children and women were the worst hit, they alleged. Similarly, large number vehicles, including those carrying passengers and trucks, are stranded on this side of the Jawahar tunnel, including at Qazigund and Anantnag.
However, Meteorological department has warned of rain and snow which could disrupt traffic on the highway during the next two days. Snow clearance operation by BRO has almost been completed on Zojila, most troubled part on the national highway, linking the Ladakh region with Kashmir.
The highway remained closed since December last year due to accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions following below freezing temperature.
The BRO has already announced that the highway would be put through for traffic about a month earlier this time because of less snowfall this time. However, it could get delayed if there is more snowfall or avalanches, the organisation said.
Meanwhile, snow clearance operation was going on a war footing on historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region. It may take about two more weeks to allow traffic on the road.
Travelers would also enjoy huge snow walls on both sides of the road during the journey, official said. Road to border town of Gurez near the Line of Control (LoC) with district headquarters Bandipora will also be put through within next few days if there is no fresh snowfall.
The road remained closed since December last year due to accumulation of snow, officials said. (AGENCIES)
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