Traffic halted on Kashmir highway due to landslides

Srinagar, Mar 14: Traffic on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was suspended following landslides, triggered by heavy rains, official sources said here today (Mar 14, 2006).

The entire Kashmir valley is under the grip of severe cold following fresh snowfall on upper reaches and rains in plains.

Official sources said heavy rains triggered landslides at Ramban this afternoon forcing the closure of the highway, the only road link between Kashmir valley and the rest of the country.

Sources said hundreds of vehicles, including trucks loaded with essential commodities and passenger vehicles are stranded on either side of the highway.

However, efforts underway the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) responsible for the maintenance of the highway, a traffic police official said.

He said traffic would be resumed after the landslides are removed.

UNI