Jammu-srinagar highway remains closed for 3rd day

AROUND 1,500 VEHICLES STILL STUCK ON THE NH; WAS OPENED FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF HOURS ON TUESDAY TO CLEAR AROUND 200 STRANDED KASHMIRBOUND PASSENGER VEHICLES

JAMMU: The 294-km long Jammusrinagar national highway - the valley’s only surface link with the rest of the country, remained closed for the third day, after landslides and shooting stones caused a blockade between Udhampur and Banihal section.

Meanwhile more than 1,500 vehicles remain stranded at various locations on the highway.

The highway was closed for vehicular traffic on Monday, after snowfall around Jawahar tunnel and landslides triggered by torrential rain at Panthyal, Ramsoo, Anokhifall caused multiple blockages.

However, the arterial highway was re-opened for vehicular movement for couple of hours on Tuesday to clear around 200 Kashmir-bound stranded passenger vehicles.

But fresh landslide in the evening at Anokhi Fall near Banihal again forced the closure of the highway.

Meanwhile , the traffic authorities on Wednesday had suspended all kind of vehicular movement, either from Jammu or Srinagar on the highway due to a landslide at Anokhi Fall.

The traffic authorities have stopped vehicular movement from Jammu at Nagrota check post and from Kashmir valley at Lower Munda near Qazigund.

Even as men and material of Hindustan Construction Company — who are carrying on four-laning of Ramban-banihal section — remained engaged in clearing the debris from the highway, the fresh landslides are hampering the road clearance work.

During the day, fresh landslides at Marog and Kela Morh between Ramban and Banihal section and at Kheri Passi just couple of kilometers ahead of Udhampur town, further encumbered the situation.

The closure of the highway has led to traffic snarls on various locations on the highway and commuters were seen eagerly waiting for resumption in vehicular movement.

Due to closure of the highway, around 500 Valley-bound trucks at Udhampur, 450 vehicles near Ramabn and 600 vehicles are stuck at Jammu bypass.

A traffic official said, "No traffic movement was allowed today. However, we are hopeful of clearing the debris by the evening. Thereafter, our first priority would be to clear around 200 passenger vehicles stranded around Ramban.”

AVALANCHE WARNING CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarhbased Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) issued avalanche warnings for the second consecutive day on Wednesday for some districts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

The SASE said the warnings will remain valid for 24 hours starting at 5pm on Wednesday.