Jammu-Srinagar national highway reopens after three days

SRINAGAR: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only road link between Kashmir and rest of the country, was today reopened for one-way traffic after remaining closed for three days due to heavy snowfall on either side of the Pir Panjal range.

"One way traffic in a regulated manner has been restored on the National Highway," a traffic department spokesman said.

He said vehicles from Jammu have been allowed to move towards Srinagar following improvement in weather and road condition.

However, the vehicles intending to ply towards Srinagar were required to cross Nagrota by 9.00 am, Udhampur by 12 noon and Banihal highway town by 5.00 pm, the spokesman said.

He said the decision was taken to prevent any vehicles getting stranded in areas where there are no facilities available for night stay.

The Highway was closed on Jan 17 as a precautionary measure in view of the expected snowfall. However, all the stranded vehicles were allowed to proceed to their respective destinations yesterday afternoon.

The 294-km arterial road, the only all weather link connecting Kashmir to rest of the country often gets closed during winter due to snowfall.