Jammu-Srinagar highway closed; Amarnath yatris among those stranded

JAMMU: Several vehicles, including those carrying Amarnath pilgrims to Kashmir, are stranded on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway after it was closed for vehicular traffic following heavy landslides at several places due to overnight rainfall.

"The highway has been closed after the overnight rains triggered landslides at various places on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway," SSP Traffic (National Highway) Sanjay Kotwal told PTI.

He said that the convoy of Amarnath-bound pilgrims has also been stopped near Batote on the highway.

"The road is closed since 3 AM today and the Amarnath- bound vehicles too have been stopped at Batote," Kotwal said.

He said that the men and machinery of the Border Road Organisation (BRO) is working round-the-clock to restore road connectivity.

"Our men have been working to restore the road and we expect the highway to open for vehicular traffic in next few hours," he said