Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 16: Despite fresh overnight snowfall in Kashmir valley and hills, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained open for one-way traffic today.
Srinagar and parts of Kashmir valley woke up to a blanket of snow this morning with chilly winds blowing across Kashmir valley making residents to shiver with intense cold. However, sun came out in the afternoon bringing respite for the people from cold wave conditions.
The hills in South Kashmir experienced moderate snowfall with Jawahar Tunnel area experiencing around 4 inch fresh snowfall and Patnitop around six inch snow.
The Border Roads Organization (BRO) cleared the snow from these two places early in the morning making way for the traffic on the Highway.
Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Muneer Khan told Excelsior that around 200 vehicles including passenger buses, car and taxis that were stranded at Batote due to snowfall in Patnitop area were cleared first and then traffic was allowed to ply towards Srinagar on this stretch of the Highway.
The IGP said that despite clearance of snow from the Highway, the Castle Mode between Kud and Patnitop remained a trouble spot in the morning as it was slippery. However, in the afternoon with the rise in temperature the traffic plied in this sector of the Highway normally.
Khan said that around 3000 vehicles crossed Jawahar Tunnel towards Srinagar by this evening and this included around 1800 passenger vehicles. He said that the traffic on the Highway will be allowed to ply upto midnight so that all the vehicles are cleared towards Srinagar. He said that around 2000 vehicles were still on the Highway between Batote and Jawahar Tunnel.
The IGP said that due to tragic accident in Battery Chasma area of the Highway the traffic on the Highway was hampered.
Khan said that one-way traffic will be allowed to ply from Srinagar to Jammu tomorrow.
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