Srinagar, Jan 22 (UNI) The Kashmir valley remained cut off from rest of the country for the second consecutive day on Tuesday following closure of the national highway due to landslides and snow, a senior traffic police official said.
Meanwhile, the national highway which connects Ladakh region with Kashmir, historic Mughal road and other roads remained closed.
Traffic movement remained suspended on 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway for the second day due to snowfall and landslides, a traffic police official told UNI.
Fresh snow had accumulated at Nowgam, both sides of Jawahar tunnel and Qazigund, he said adding there were landslides and shooting stones at several places between Ramban and Ramsu.
He said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) responsible for the maintenance of the highway, has already pressed into service sophisticated machine and men to clear the snow.
There is also a forecast for heavy snowfall during the next 48 hours, he said adding the divisional authorities have also issued warning that surface and air traffic could get affected.
He said no vehicle will be allowed from Jammu or Srinagar. People are requested to contact Traffic Control Units (TCUs) at Srinagar, Jammu and Ramban before undertaking the journey on the highway.
Official sources said large number of vehicles, mostly trucks and oil tankers, are stranded on both sides of the tunnel. They said stranded vehicles will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations before allowing fresh traffic.
Meanwhile, the national highway, linking the Ladakh region with Kashmir, remained closed due to accumulation of snow which has now frozen for the past about two months. Fresh snowfall was also received at Sonamarg, Zojila pass, Zero point and Meenmarg on the highway, traffic spokesman said adding the road between Kargil, the border town on the highway, to Leh was through. The road is likely to reopen in March or April.
The historic 86-km-long Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region also received fresh snowfall during the past 24 hours. The road is closed for the past two months due to accumulation of snow and slippery road condition.
The Anantnag, in south Kashmir, to Kishtwar in Jammu road also remained closed due to accumulation of snow.
UNI BAS PS 0941