BRO intensifies Jammu and Kashmir highway clearance operation

JAMMU: Border Roads Organisation intensified its operation to clear the 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar national highway which remained closed for the fifth consecutive day today due to landslides and sinking of road at various places.

It is for the fifth consecutive day that the highway is closed for the vehicular traffic, police said, adding, traffic on the highway was suspended due to landslides, washing of road patches, and flooding at various places on September 4.

Over 3,000 passenger and commercial vehicles were stranded on the highway at various place in Banihal, Ramban, Batote, Kud, Patnitop, Chenani, Udhampur and Jammu due to closure of the road, they said.

The BRO pressed in service its men and machines as the weather started to become clear and launched a massive clearance and repair operation to reopen the highway for traffic, police added.

The authorities were focusing more on reopening of the highway so that more rescue material could reach Kashmir by road.

Over a dozen inter-district roads were also closed due to landslides, washing away of roads, breaches and sinking of roads due to floods in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Poonch, and Kathua districts of Jammu region.