et plus report
Srinagar, Mar 16 : Snow clearance operation on the National Highway, connecting the Ladakh region with the rest of the state, has started from this side of the Zojila pass.
Roads to several dozen far-flung and remote villages, including those near the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir, remained closed due to snowfall since December last year.
However, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was through for one-way traffic.
The BRO today started snow clearance operation from this side of the Zojila while similar operation was launched from Drass side last week on the highway, which was closed in December year due to snowfall and slippery road conditions.
Sophisticated snow cutters and snow clearance machines were pressed into service from both side to remove more than 10 feet of accumulated snow on the road.
The road is likely to reopen next month if there is no fresh snowfall and avalanches, official sources said.
Authorities have arranged planes to airlift stranded passengers of Kargil, a border town of the Srinagar-Leh highway.
Roads leading to far-flung and remote areas, including Gurez, Dawar, Neeru, Keran, Karnah, Machil, Teetwal and other areas near LoC, remained closed since December last year due to snow.
The authorities had been arranging planes to airlift stranded passengers from these places from time to time. However, people at Dawar and Bandipora alleged that they were stranded for the past one week.
Only one-way traffic is allowed on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway since December 15 last year to avoid any traffic jam or accident. However, about a dozen people were killed in different accidents on the highway this year. |
