SRINAGAR, Nov 5: Traffic on the national highway, connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was restored after remaining suspended since yesterday afternoon due to landslides, triggered by heavy rains, and the Ladakh region remained cut off from the Kashmir valley as the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway remained closed for the second day today due to accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions..
Meanwhile, the historic Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region remained closed for the second day today due to snowfall. A traffic police official told here this morning that traffic on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was restored this morning.
He said vehicles, including those carrying passengers, which were stranded on the highway, have been allowed to move towards their respective destinations. Fresh vehicles from both Srinagar and Jammu have also been allowed. Traffic on the highway was suspended yesterday in the afternoon following landslides between Ramban and Ramu, triggered by heavy rains. However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintainance of the highway pressed into service sophisticated machines and men and put through the highway.
However, he said, the 84-km-long historic Mughal road between Shopian and Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu remained closed due to one to two feet of snowfall at several places, including Pir-ki-Gali and other places.
He said the local administration on both sides have already pressed into service machines and men to put through the road, which is being seen as alternative to the Sriangar-Jammu national highway.
Hundreds of vehicles, mostly trucks, are stranded at different places on the road, he said adding stranded vehicles will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations before allowing fresh traffic.
A traffic police official that snowfall at Sonamarg, Zojilla and Meenmarg since early yesterday morning, forced authorities to suspend traffic on the highway, connecting the Ladakh region with Kashmir valley.
He said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the mainteinance of the highway, has already pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to put through the highway, lifeline to Ladakh region.
However, he said, it will take some more time as the road was slippery due to considerable drop in the night temperature.
Meanwhile, official source said hundreds of vehicles, mostly trucks and carrying passengers are stranded on both sides of the Zojila pass. The Centre and state governments have already agreed to construct a tunnel at the pass to make it an all weather road.
Stranded vehicles will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations once a green signal is received from the BRO and traffic police officials posted at Sonmarg and other places, they said.
In the past the highway was being closed for six winter months from November Ist every year. However, for the past few years the highway remained through till weather permits. Meanwhile, the winter stocking at different parts of the Ladakh region, which remained cut off for six winter months due to heavy snowfall, has been completed.
There is now enough stock of essentials, including rice, wheat flour sugar, LPG, pulses and kerosene oil. Enough stock of diesel sel is also stocked for generator sets being used for power generation in the region. (agencies)
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