SRINAGAR:Traffic on the National Highway, linking the Ladakh region with Kashmir, was partially restored though no fresh vehicle was allowed from any side while the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and historic Mughal road are through for traffic.
Official sources told here that traffic on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway was suspended after heavy rain and cloudburst damaged a major portion of road in Gund tehsil between Ganderbal- Sonmarg on July 16.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, immediately pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to repair the damaged portion of the road.
Closure of the Ganderbal-Baltal road has badly affected the Amarnath pilgrims who were also stopped at Sumbal and Manigam. However, some of them reached Baltal and Domail by covering the distance on foot.
Major portion of the road has been repaired and work on remaining is going on war footing, sources said, adding that it has been decided that vehicles, stranded on the highway, will be cleared before allowing fresh vehicles from any side as road has not been fully restored.
However, the national highway, linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was through for traffic. Light and heavy vehicles carrying Amarnath pilgrims will ply from both sides. Other heavy vehicles will continue to ply on one-side only on the highway as road at several places was still very narrow where only one vehicle could pass easily, he said.
The historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, was through for both ways. (AGENCIES)
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