SRINAGAR : Despite snow and rain, the Srinagar-Jammu national highway was through, while the highway linking the Ladakh region with Kashmir has been closed for six winter months, following heavy snowfall.
The historic Mughal road and a number of road communications, including road from Bandipora to border town of Gurez, had also been closed due to heavy snowfall.
There was about three to four inches of snow at Jawahar tunnel and Banihal on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu highway, connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country. However, he said the highway was through and vehicles were plying from both sides, a traffic police official said.
He said large number of trucks carrying essentials for Kashmir valley have left different parts of Jammu this morning.
Most people from Kashmir like to travel by train up to Banihal to avoid Jawahar tunnel and Shaitani Nallah, most troubled spots on the highway, particularly during winter and rainy days in summer.
However, due to heavy snowfall at several places, including Pir-ki-Gali, the historic Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, remained closed since yesterday. There is now almost no chance to reopen the road till April-May this year.
The national highway, linking the Ladakh region with Kashmir, has also been closed for winter following heavy snowfall and slippery road condition.
The Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road (Zojila Pass), which connects Kashmir valley with the Ladakh region, will remain closed from tomorrow for all types of vehicles till further notice, he said.
Earlier, the highway was closed from November 1 every year due to snowfall. However, for the past several years due to dry weather, the highway remained open even during December month also.
However, the highway from border town of Kargil to Leh will remain open though the condition of road will be reviewed on daily basis.
Official sources said that since the highway remains closed during winter due to heavy snowfall, the government has taken several steps to facilitate free movement of people of the region from Srinagar and Jammu which also include the air sorties.
The sources said that IAF will commence AN-32 courier service to Kargil from January, 10 2017 and it will remain operational during the whole winter season.
The AN-32 courier service would operate from Srinagar to Kargil and back thrice in a week whereas it will be operated from Jammu to Kargil and back twice in a week.
However, in case of cancellation of any sortie due to bad weather or any other reason, necessary announcements would be made through electronic media so that the passengers may not face any inconvenience.
It has been decided that insurance cover should also be provided to the passengers on meager charges included in the air ticket. The decision has been taken for the larger benefits of the passengers.
Facilities during stay in Srinagar and Jammu, including additional security personnel and transportation to airport, would be provided by the local administration.
A number of roads to far-flung and remote areas in north Kashmir, including road from Bandipora to border town of Gurez, have also been closed due to heavy snowfall.
The road to Gurez will reopen only in April or May this year. The district administration in north Kashmir has meanwhile, pressed into service machines and men to clear snow on the roads connecting far-flung and remote areas with district and tehsil headquarters. (AGENCIES)
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