Despite snow Kashmir highway through for one-way traffic, Leh & other roads shut

Jammu, Jan 19: Despite fresh snowfall the national highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was through for one-way traffic while Srinagar-Leh and other roads remained closed due to accumulation of snow.

The 300-km-long Srinagar- Jammu national highway was through despite snowing on both sides of the Jawhar tunnel, Shaitan Nallah and Banihal since Saturday morning.

After reviewing the weather and road conditions, we allowed one-way traffic on the highway, a traffic police official said Saturday morning. He said traffic will ply from Jammu to Srinagar on Saturday and no vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction.

However, he said, Kashmir bound Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) will have to cross Jakheni Udhampur between 0500 hrs to 0900 hrs while Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) from 0600 hrs to 1000 hrs.

He said no vehicle will be allowed after the deadline as road becomes slippery in the evening on this side of the Banihal due to below freezing point temperature.

The Meteorological department has already issued a warning that surface and air traffic could get affected due to moderate to heavy snowfall from Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the national highway, the only road linking the Ladakh region with Kashmir remained closed for the past about two months due to accumulation of snow, particularly between Sonamarg in central Kashmir and Meenmarg in Ladakh region.

However, vehicles were operating on the highway between Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, border town of Kargil and Leh.

The road between Anantnag in south Kashmir and Kishtwar in Jammu region also remained closed due to snow. The 86-km-long historic Mughal road connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region also remained closed for the past about two months due to accumulation of snow.

These roads are likely to reopen in March and April.