Jammu-Srinagar highway reopens for traffic after 2 days closure

Tribune News Service
Jammu, August 22

After being closed for two days due to multiple landslides, Jammu-Srinagar national highway—the only road link to Kashmir Valley—was reopened for traffic on Saturday.

“The highway has been cleared for one-way traffic. The stranded vehicles towards Kashmir Valley are being cleared. After clearing stranded vehicles, traffic will be allowed to proceed towards Jammu from Kashmir,” said a senior traffic police official.

The highway was blocked over half-a-dozen vulnerable spots between Ramban and Banihal sector due to landslides and shooting stones triggered by heavy rains over the past two days.

The authorities were facing a major challenge in carrying out clearance operation due to continuous shooting stones at Panthiyal, Monkey Morh, Mehar, Chanderkote, Moum Passi, Marog, Battery Cheshma and Trishul Morh.

Over 2,500 vehicles including light motor vehicles and trucks had been stranded at different places along the highway.

On August 20 morning, the highway was closed for the traffic following multiple landslides at half a dozen places due to heavy rains.