SRINAGAR: Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers, are stranded on Sunday on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway which was closed on Thursday night following fresh snowfall and landslides.
There were fresh landslides and shooting stones between Ramban and Ramsu during the night due to which traffic on the highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country could not be restored today, official sources said.
However, Air traffic at Srinagar International Airport was resumed on Saturday afternoon after remaining suspended for the past seven days due to poor visibility.
The historic 86-km-long Mughal road and Anantnag-Kishtwar roads also remained closed due to snowfall.
Meanwhile, the national highway, the only road connecting Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh region with the Kashmir valley, remained closed for the past five days. The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir has announced closure of the highway for winter month. However, the UT Ladakh authorities said they were not consulted before announcing closure of the highway for winter month.
Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained suspended since Thursday night following snowfall on both sides of the tunnel, sources said. Today, traffic remained suspended as there were fresh landslides and shooting stones at Digdol, Penthal, Battery Cheshma and two other places between Ramban and Ramsu. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), responsible for the maintenance and widening of the highway, has already pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to clear the landslides.
After clearing snow , about 80 vehicles at Banihal were allowed to move towards Kashmir last night.
They said traffic will be restored in the afternoon or evening if there are not fresh landslides on the highway. However, Inspector General of Police (Traffic) said only stranded vehicles will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations before allowing fresh traffic from Jammu or Srinagar.
The Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, remained closed for the fifth day on Sunday due to accumulation of snowfall and slippery road conditions , a traffic police official said this morning.
There was three to five feet of fresh snowfall on the Mughal road, particularly at Harpora, Pir-ki-Gali and other areas. Traffic on the road was allowed recently after remaining suspended since November 6 when there was heavy snowfall.
The road, which is also seen as alternative to the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, remained closed during winter months due to about ten feet of snow and avalanches every year.
(agencies)
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