Kashmir highway closed due to landslide; Leh NH, Mughal road reopens for traffic
Srinagar, Oct 20: The 300-km-long national highway, which connects Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was closed for traffic movement on Saturday evening following fresh landslide.
However, traffic was restored on Srinagar-Leh national highway and historic Mughal road on Saturday morning after remaining suspended for a day on Friday due to snowfall and slippery road conditions.
"We have suspended traffic movement on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway following landslide at Ramsoo in Jammu region," a traffic police official told TNN.
He said that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) which is responsible for the maintenance of the highway, has already put into service manpower as well as sophisticated machines to clear the landslides and put through the highway.
Hundreds of vehicles, including passenger vehicles, are stranded at various places on the Kashmir highway. However, he said vehicles will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations once a green signal is received from the traffic police officials and BRO.
He said traffic on 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway, the only road linking Ladakh region with Kashmir, was restored on Saturday morning. Traffic movement on the Srinagar-Leh national highway was suspended due to slippery road conditions following fresh snowfall on Thursday night at different places, including Zojila pass and Meenmarg.
He said vehicular movement has also been restored on historic 86-km-long Mughal road from Shopian in south Kashmir to Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region.
Poonch Police along with civil authorities rescued several vehicles on Mughal road, which were stranded due to snowfall, the official added.
Light motor vehicles were plying normally since early morning from both sides. However, he said heavy vehicle will ply from Jammu to Shopian.