Over 1000 vehicles, mostly carrying essentials, remained stranded due to closure of the 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, for the third day on Saturday following landslides and shooting stones, triggered rain, at several places.
However, the 86-km-long Mughal road, seen as an alternative to Srinagar-Jammu highway, and highway, linking Ladakh Union Territory (UT) with Kashmir were through for one-way traffic.
Traffic remained suspended for the third day on Saturday on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, a traffic police official said today.
He said the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has pressed into service sophisticated machines to clear the landslides and put through the highway.
However, he said, continued landslides and shooting stones are hampering the road clearance operation. Since last night the weather has improved and shooting stone has stopped, he said adding landslide clearance operation has been intensified.
He said Kashmir bound essential commodity vehicles which had left Jammu Thursday morning have been stopped at several places, particularly in Udhampur. Similarly, some vehicles from this site, particularly private and passenger vehicles, having valid travel permit, have been stopped on this side of the Ramban.
He said once the road clearance operation is over and a green signal is received to allow traffic, only stranded vehicles will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations before allowing fresh traffic.
Meanwhile, stranded passengers and truckers alleged that they could not get any food due to closure of all hotels and other restaurants since March due to COVID-19 pandemic. Elderly persons, women and children were the worst hit, passengers said adding in some cases truck drivers provided some food.
He said Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region was through despite rain. However, only vehicles, carrying fresh fruit, will be allowed to ply from Shopian to Jammu between 1100 hrs 1600 hrs and vehicle will be allowed after the deadline.
Vehicles carrying essentials will also ply on Srinagar- Sonamarg in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal to Gumari on the other side of the Zojila pass on the highway connecting Ladakh with Kashmir.
However, the 86-km-long Mughal road, seen as an alternative to Srinagar-Jammu highway, and highway, linking Ladakh Union Territory (UT) with Kashmir were through for one-way traffic.
Traffic remained suspended for the third day on Saturday on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, a traffic police official said today.
He said the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has pressed into service sophisticated machines to clear the landslides and put through the highway.
However, he said, continued landslides and shooting stones are hampering the road clearance operation. Since last night the weather has improved and shooting stone has stopped, he said adding landslide clearance operation has been intensified.
He said Kashmir bound essential commodity vehicles which had left Jammu Thursday morning have been stopped at several places, particularly in Udhampur. Similarly, some vehicles from this site, particularly private and passenger vehicles, having valid travel permit, have been stopped on this side of the Ramban.
He said once the road clearance operation is over and a green signal is received to allow traffic, only stranded vehicles will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations before allowing fresh traffic.
Meanwhile, stranded passengers and truckers alleged that they could not get any food due to closure of all hotels and other restaurants since March due to COVID-19 pandemic. Elderly persons, women and children were the worst hit, passengers said adding in some cases truck drivers provided some food.
He said Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region was through despite rain. However, only vehicles, carrying fresh fruit, will be allowed to ply from Shopian to Jammu between 1100 hrs 1600 hrs and vehicle will be allowed after the deadline.
Vehicles carrying essentials will also ply on Srinagar- Sonamarg in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal to Gumari on the other side of the Zojila pass on the highway connecting Ladakh with Kashmir.
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