Jammu-Srinagar National Highway reopens for one-way traffic

JAMMU: The 300km-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which was closed for the last two days, today reopened for one-way traffic after two major avalanches and five landslides were cleared by the Border Roads Organisation.

"The highway has been reopened for one-way traffic from Jammu to Srinagar today," Ramban Superintendent of Police Anil Magotra said.

The highway, the only surface link with Kashmir Valley, was closed due to heavy snowfall, avalanches and landslides on the Jawahir tunnel-Banihal-Ramban-Patnitop stretch on January 15.

Over 120 trucks from the Kashmir Valley have been allowed for their onward destination in Jammu, the SP said.

However, due to a thick blanket of fog in Sher-bibi area, where a major avalanche was cleared, Srinagar-bound traffic has been stopped for some time as a precautionary measure, he added.

Trucks carrying essential supplies, including LPG, oil supplies and food grains, were allowed to move to Kashmir Valley from Jammu.

Due to the closure of the highway, over 2,700 vehicles are stranded at various places, mostly at Udhampur and Nagrota areas of Jammu district.

The men and machines of the BRO worked overtime to clear the highway from heavy snowfall, two major avalanches and five landslides, the SP said.

The highway was lashed with heavy snowfall on January 15 and January 16 at Jawahir tunnel, Banihal, Batote and Patnitop areas of the state.

Two major avalanches also hit the arterial road at Nachalana and Shatani Nallah, while five landslides occurred at Digdol, Panthal, Sheri-bibi and Maroog and Shergarhi areas of Ramban district, he said.

The inter-district highway of Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch has been restored for traffic even as Doda-Kishtwar is still closed due to snowfall at various places.

Besides, most of the inter-district roads in Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and partly Kathua districts are closed due to heavy snowfall.

The inter-state Bhaderwah-Chamba (Himachal Pradesh) road is also closed following nine feet snow at Sartangal Pass.