early times report
Srinagar, Nov 15: Vehicles, stranded on the other side of the Zojila pass only, will ply from Ladakh to Kashmir today on the highway, connecting the region with the valley.
Meanwhile, two-way traffic is plying on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway and Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region.
A traffic police official told UNI that only one-way traffic will ply on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway.
However, yesterday vehicles stranded on other side of the Zojila pass were allowed to move towards Kashmir, he said, adding that there were still large number of vehicles marooned at Drass, Kargil and other places.
Today also, the vehicles from Leh will ply on the highway, the official said. Those from valley will be allowed only after all vehicles are cleared from other side of the Zojila.
He said since the road remains very slippery due to below freezing temperature in the morning and evening hours, particularly in Zojila and Meenmarg and India gate area, vehicles are being allowed during the day.
Meanwhile, authorities have stocked essentials, including rice, wheat flour, sugar, LPG, kerosene oil, diesel, patrol and medicine at different places in the region which remain cut off for six winter months due to snowfall, particularly in Zojila area.
However, for the past few years, the highway was being kept through till December or January against previous practice of declaring the lifeline to Ladakh closed from November 1 every year. |
