SRINAGAR About 8,000 vehicles, which were stranded from the last three days due to closure of Srinagar-Jammu national highway following landslides and continued shooting stones, were on Sunday allowed to move towards Kashmir valley.
Meanwhile, one-way traffic continued to ply on Srinagar-Leh national highway, the only road linking the Ladakh region with Kashmir, and historic 86-km-long Mughal road.
“After clearing landslides at Digdol and some other places in Ramban, Kashmir-bound stranded vehicles were allowed to ply the highway, which connects Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, on Sunday,” a traffic official said.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway cleared the landslides, allowing the stranded vehicles to move towards Kashmir valley on Friday evening.
However, official sources said that the traffic was again suspended after fresh landslides at Digdol. A driver, who was operating a machine to clear the landslides, was injured after hit by a stone.
NHAI and BRO again pressed into service sophisticated machines and clear the landslides.
“About 8,000 stranded vehicles, including passenger vehicles and trucks carrying essentials, were on Sunday allowed to move on the highway.
Passenger, including tourists, stranded since Thursday alleged that authorities have totally failed to provide them even a glass of water. “We have been stopped at a place where there is no facility,” alleged passengers.
Meanwhile, prices of essentials, particularly fresh vegetable and fruit besides chicken and meat, have witnessed sharp increase during the past few weeks due to frequent closure of the highway following landslides and ban imposed by the authorities on movement of civilian traffic twice a week — Sunday and Wednesday — to allow free movement of security force convoy.
However, the authorities have now lifted the ban on Wednesdays from next week. The highway will now remain close for civilian traffic for only Sundays.
Only one-way traffic will continue to ply on the national highway, the only road linking Ladakh region with Kashmir valley, a traffic police official said, adding that today Srinagar bound vehicle will be allowed to ply.
However, Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) will have to cross Minimarg in Ladakh region between 0700 hrs to 1000 hrs followed by Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) from 1000 hrs to 1300 hrs. He said no vehicle will be allowed after the deadline.
Only one-way traffic will be allowed to ply on historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region. Today traffic would ply from Behramgalla to Shopian. “LMVs will be allowed from 0900 hrs to 1100 hrs from Behramgalla followed by HMVs between 1100 hrs to 1500 hrs,” the official said.
(AGENCIES)
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