| Kashmir, Ladakh highways closed due to landslides, Mughal road open | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 25: The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway and the highway connecting the Ladakh region with Kashmir were closed due to landslides, triggered by heavy rains. However, the historic Mughal road, linking south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region was open, a traffic police official said this morning. He said the Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed this morning following landslides at several places, including Penthal and Ramsu. However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) responsible for the maintenance of the highway has already put into service sophisticated machine and men to clear the landslides and put through the highway. However, he said, no vehicle will be allowed till a green signal is received from the BRO and traffic police officials posted at different locations on the highway. Meanwhile, official sources said, that hundreds of trucks and other heavy vehicles, carrying essentials for the Kashmir valley are stranded on the highway. Though light vehicles are plying on both sides, trucks and other heavy vehicles are plying on alternative days from Srinagar and Jammu and today there was up convoy for heavy vehicles. A large number of vehicles, carrying passengers are also stranded at Qazigund and other places on this side of the Jawahar tunnel, sources said, adding that similarly passenger vehicles were stopped at Udhampur and other place from Jammu side. Trafffic on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway was also stopped due to landslides, triggered by rains at Bajri nallah, spokesman said. However, he said, the BRO has already started work and it will take some time to clear the landslide and put through the traffic. Though the highway, the only road linking the Ladakh region with the rest of the state, is open for both ways, but vehicles are being allowed to ply at Zojila on rotation. In the morning, vehicles from other side of the Zojila are allowed to cross for Kashmir and later in the afternoon, vehicles are plying from here. |
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