Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 11: The Srinagar-Leh National Highway was re-opened for traffic this morning after remaining closed since December last year due to heavy snowfall.
A police official said that only one-way traffic will be allowed from Srinagar to Kargil. However, from Kargil to Leh two-way traffic will be allowed as usual.
Authorities allowed 610 light vehicles, including passenger vehicles, left from Sonamarg towards Kargil this morning. However, the drivers were directed to cross Sonamarg before 7 a.m.
The highway from Srinagar to Kargil was closed due to eight to ten feet of snowfall at Zojila and other places during the winter. However, Kargil to Leh road was open.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, started snow clearance operation in March from both Drass and Sonamarg sides. But, late snowfall and snow avalanches delayed the snow clearance operation.
The BRO had finished snow clearance from Zojila area of the highway on May 2 but due to triggering of avalanche at around a dozen places hampered the efforts of re-opening of the highway.
Two people were killed after they were buried alive under a snow avalanche at Zojila when they started foot journey from Kargil to Srinagar in April.
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