JAMMU: The Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for the third consecutive day on Thursday following multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains in the Udhampur-Ramban belt, officials said.
As a result of the closure, nearly 500 to 600 vehicles are stranded at different locations along the route.
The 270-km highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, has been blocked by several landslides between Jakheni and Chenani in Udhampur district.
“The highway is shut for vehicular traffic from Jakheni in Udhampur towards Srinagar due to road damage at several stretches between Jakheni and Chenani. No movement of vehicles will be allowed from Nagrota in Jammu towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal or Srinagar,” a traffic police official said.
He added that commuters from Katra and Udhampur have been asked to carry valid photo ID cards to facilitate smooth movement, wherever permitted.
Meanwhile, men and machinery of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are on the ground to clear the blockades caused by Tuesday’s heavy rainfall and flash floods.
According to the latest traffic advisory, the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag highway also remains closed for traffic. However, subject to fair weather and clearance from the BRO, traffic on the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari road will be allowed in a regulated manner.
As per the advisory, light motor vehicles (LMVs) followed by heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) will be permitted to move from Sonamarg towards Kargil between 11:30 am and 5:30 pm. No vehicle will be allowed beyond the cut-off time. Security convoys operating between Srinagar and Kargil have been directed to plan their movement so that civilian traffic is not disrupted.
The advisory further said that, weather permitting, LMVs and private cars will also be allowed on the Mughal Road connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Poonch in Jammu region. Vehicles will be permitted from both directions—from Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa—via Poonch, between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm, from Behramgala in Poonch and Herpora in Shopian.
