Jammu-Srinagar highway remains closed for 4th day
294-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway — the valley’s pivotal surface link with the rest of the country — remained closed for the fourth consecutive day, after landslides kept occurring between Ramban and Banihal section.
Meanwhile, more than 2,000 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 on the highway.
However, the weather has turned dry since Tuesday morning in the state.
The traffic authorities on Thursday had suspended all kind of vehicular movement, either from Jammu or Srinagar due to a landslide at Marog near Ramban.
However, by late evening on Wednesday, men and material of Hindustan Construction Company - who are carrying out fourlaning of the Ramban-Banihal section were able to clear debris from Marog, Kela Morh and Anokhi Fall, but fresh landslides at Marog again blocked the road.
Meanwhile, fresh landslides during the day further hampered the road clearance work.
Though HCC were able to clear most of the debris at Marog but in late afternoon, a landslide reoccurred at Anokhi Fall, making reopening of the highway unlikely by the evening.
Senior superintendent of police (SSP) traffic, National Highway, Sanjay Kumar Bhagat said, "No movement of any sort of traffic was allowed on the national highway, either from Srinagar or Jammu on Wednesday. The landslides are delaying the reopening of the highway."
More than 2,000 vehicles are stuck at various locations including Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, Banihal and Qazigund since the past few days.
Whether any fresh vehicular would be allowed on Friday, SSP Bhagat said, “After clearing the debris from the highway, our first priority would be to clear the stranded vehicles.”
Meanwhile, the passengers holed up in Jammu bus stand for the last three days due to closure of the highway staged a protest against the local administration.
The passengers alleged that they have run out of cash and the local administration did not bother to send any kind of aid.