SRINAGAR: A massive snow clearance operation has been launched to restore traffic on the national highway, connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir valley while historic Mughal and dozens of other far-flung and remote roads remained closed due to snowfall.
Meanwhile, only one-way traffic will continue till further order on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, linking Kashmir valley with the rest of the country. No vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction under any circumstances, a traffic police official said today.
He said the Srinagar-Leh national highway has been closed for winter months due to accumulation of snow and slippery road condition, particularly between Sonamarg-Zojilla and Meenmarg.
”We have already withdrawn all traffic police personnel, who were posted at different places to regulate traffic on the highway,” traffic official said.
However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, has pressed into service sophisticated machines and men on work to clear snow from Meenmarg towards Zojila pass.
The snow has been cleared up to Zero-Point from Meenmarg, official source said. They said snow clearance operation from Sonamarg in the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal to Zojilla has not been started yet.
There are more than three feet of snow accumulated at several places between Sonamarg to Zero point, including Zojilla, they added. Today, traffic will ply from Srinagar to Jammu and no vehicle, including those of security forces, would be allowed from opposite direction, traffic police official said.
Traffic on the Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region remained closed for the 10th day today as about three to four feet of snow had accumulated at several places on other side of the Pir-ki-Gali. Meanwhile, dozens of far-flung and remote villages, including near the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir districts of Bandipora and Kupwara remained cut off from their respective district and tehsil headquarters due to heavy snowfall recently.
The snow clearance operation was going on a war-footing to put through the road before the border area is cut off for rest of the winter months. (agencies)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
