Srinagar-Jammu highway closed due to landslides

SRINAGAR - The strategic Srinagar-Jammu national highway Thursday was closed for vehicular traffic due to landslides at some places and slippery road conditions.

“We cleared the stranded vehicles on the highway yesterday (Wednesday) evening,” G.M. Wadoo, superintendent of police traffic (Rural), told IANS here.

“The highway has been closed for vehicular traffic today (Thursday) because of slippery conditions in Banihal sector of the road and some landslides at other places,” he said.

“Efforts are on to re-open the highway, but intending travellers must contact the traffic control rooms in Srinagar and Jammu before undertaking the journey,” Wadoo added.

The over 300-km long highway is the only major, year-round road link between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country. The other link - from Leh, Ladakh, to Kullu-Manali in Himachal Pradesh through Rohtang Pass - is closed in winter due to heavy snowfall.

All supplies of essential items to the valley are routed through Jammu-Srinagar National Highway No.1A and its closure, especially during the winter months, often results in artificial scarcity of goods here as unethical traders resort to hoarding and black-marketing.

Local weather office has forecast rain and snow in the valley because of a western disturbance, which will continue till March 1.