Only one-way traffic on Kashmir highway, Mughal road closed

SRINAGAR : The historic 86-km-long Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, has been closed due to fresh snowfall since early Monday morning.
However, the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only all weather road linking Kashmir valley with the rest of the country was through for one-way traffic only. Today vehicles will ply from Srinagar to Jammu and no vehicle will be allowed from opposite directions, a traffic police official said.
He said due to fresh snowfall since early this morning, the Mughal road, seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu national highway, was closed for any traffic movement from both sides.
There was moderate to heavy snowfall on the road forcing authorities to suspend traffic movement on the road, where there was already white walls of snow on both sides.
We were allowing only one-way traffic on the road which remained slippery in the morning and evening, he said adding fresh snowfall was received at Pir Ki Gali and other areas today.
The road remained closed for six winter months due to heavy snowfall. The centre and state governments have already agreed to construct a tunnel to make it all weather road.
Meanwhile, large number of vehicles are stranded on both sides of the road.
Only one-way traffic will continue to ply on Srinagar-Jammu national highway till further orders, he said.
He said Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) left Srinagar this morning for Jammu. The Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) will be allowed from 1400 hrs till 2400 hrs only on the highway, he said adding no vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction. (agencies)