Srinagar, Nov 4 (UNI) The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, has been closed for any traffic movement due to snowfall and landslides, triggered by rain on Sunday.
The historic 86-km-long historic Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, also remained shut for the fourth day today due to snowfall and slippery road conditions.
A traffic official told UNI that traffic on the Kashmir highway was suspended on Saturday morning following landslides, triggered by rain, at several places between Ramban and Ramsu.
However, he said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to clear the landslides and put through the traffic. Traffic was allowed for some time from Srinagar to Jammu only. Traffic was again suspended due to fresh landslides and snowfall, he said, adding that efforts are going on to put through the highway again.
Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying essentials for Kashmir and fruits from here to mandis across the country, are still stranded on the highway.
Since the NHAI is working for construction of four-lane road, only one-way traffic is allowed on the highway, badly affecting export of fruits from here and imports of essentials for different parts of the country.
Traffic police officials said the historic Mughal road remained closed for the fourth day on Sunday due to several feet snowfall and slippery road condition. Nothing can be said when the road will reopen since there is heavy snowfall and road also remained slippery due to below freezing point temperature during the night.
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