SRINAGAR : Traffic on the historic Mughal road, connecting south Kashmir with Jammu region through Poonch, remained suspended for the second day today while only up convoy will ply on the highway, linking the valley with the rest of the country.
Traffic on the national highway, the only road linking Ladakh region with the Kashmir valley also remained through for both ways though vehicles will ply from Srinagar in the morning and Kargil in the afternoon to avoid accidents and traffic jam on Zojila pass.
A traffic police official told UNI that there was no traffic yesterday on the Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir to Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu in view of maintenance of the highway.
Today the traffic was to ply from Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region to Shopian as per the scheduled issued by the department, the official said, adding that however, a landslide at Pashana on other side of the Peer-ki-Gali, forced authorities to suspend the traffic. Meanwhile, large number of vehicles, including those carrying passengers, are stranded at Shopian since yesterday despite announcements made in advance that there will be no traffic on May 17 in view of the maintenance of the road. Traffic will be resumed only after the landslide is cleared, official sources said. The official said it has been decided to allow only one-way traffic on Mughal road on alternate days to ensure safety and security of passengers and for hassle-free movement of vehicles on the road, which was reopened only recently after remaining closed for five winter months. There are still huge walls of snow on both sides of the road. He said the road will remain closed for any traffic once in a week to carry out maintenance of the road. Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Traffic, said the Mughal road will remain operational only for one-way traffic for Light Motor Vehciles (LMVs) till further orders due to certain bottlenecks and poor condition of the road. He said the traffic will be allowed from Rajour and Poonch to Shopian and vice versa on alternate days. The traffic official said only one-way traffic was being allowed on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway as the road at some places was still narrow and damaged due to soil erosion and landslides during winter. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, has already pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to repair the damaged portion of the road and put it through for both ways in view of the Amarnath yatra and tourist season ahead. Today, the traffic was allowed from Jammu to Srinagar and no vehicle was allowed from opposite direction. Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Leh national highway, which reopened last week, remained through for both ways. However, vehicles travelling from Srinagar to Kargil and Drass will have to cross the Zojila pass in the morning while vehicles from opposite directions will be allowed in the afternoon. This decision has been taken to avoid any traffic jam or accident at Zojila pass where there are still about five to ten feet of snow wall on both sides of the road. (AGENCIES)
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