JK highway closed for 4th day, BRO intensifies clearance operations

JAMMU: The 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for the fourth consecutive day today due to landslides and sinking of road at various places, even as authorities have launched a massive operation to repair and make it motorable.

"The highway is closed for the fourth consecutive day today," police said, adding that traffic on the highway was suspended due to landslides, washing of road patches, and flooding at various places on Thursday last.

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 Border Roads Organisation (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.

Police has also appealed to the people to avoid travelling for the next couple of days on roads in various flood-hit areas.

Heavy to moderate rains have been witnessed in the state since intervening night of September 2 and 3, resulting in loss of life and properties. As many as 137 people have died and 12,000 rescued by the army and IAF personnel.