SRINAGAR With improvement in weather conditions, the authorities restore the strategically important Srinagar-Jammu Highway which remained closed for vehicular traffic since Thursday due to multiple landslides along the Banihal-Ramban stretch, officials said.
“Fresh landslides occurred overnight at several places including Anokhi fall, Digdole and Panthiyal. Road clearance operation was completed to ensure early restoration of traffic on the highway,” they added.
The 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir to the rest of the country, was closed for traffic on Thursday following heavy snowfall and rains which triggered multiple landslides blocking the road at various places on the Banihal-Ramban stretch, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.
The official said the snow clearance operation at Jawahar Tunnel, the gateway to Kashmir, was completed late Friday evening, following which over 100 stranded Kashmir-bound tankers carrying petroleum products were allowed to proceed towards their destination.
“The blockade due to landslides at various places including Nachlana, Gangroo, Seri and Battery Cheshma were also cleared, while efforts are on to clear the blockade at other paces,” the official said, the road was thrown open for traffic late in the afternoon.
He said only stranded vehicles were allowed to move towards their destinations after the completion of the clearance operation.
Traffic will be allowed to move from Jammu-Srinagar highway subject to fair weather and road condition for both LMVs/HMVs, the traffic department official said.
The weatherman said dry conditions are likely to prevail till February 5, However, a spell of rain and snow has been predicted under the influence of western disturbance from February 5 evening.
“Weather is likely to remain mainly dry throughout the state till February 5 (evening). It is likely be be followed by another spell of snow and rain till February 9,” a spokesman of the MET department said.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |