Srinagar-Jammu national highway reopens

Srinagar, July 13 (UNI) The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which was closed for traffic due to landslides this morning, was reopened this afternoon, official sources said.

They said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) responsible for the maintainance of the highway, the only road linking Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, cleared the landslides this afternoon.

All the stranded vehicles on the highway have been allowed to move towards their respective destinations at 1500 hours, a spokesman of the traffic police told UNI.

He said trucks loaded with essential commodities besides passenger vehicles which left Jammu this morning are on way to Srinagar.

However, only light vehicles were allowed from Srinagar to Jammu today, he added.

Heavy rains overnight and this morning triggered landslides at Ramban, about 151 kms from here and shooting stones between Ramban and Ramsu forcing authorities to close the highway.

The BRO personnel were immeidately pressed into service and sophisticated machines were used to clear the highway.

Sources said thousands of vehicles, including trucks loaded with essential commodities were stranded on the highway.

The traffic was also suspended for several hours yesterday due to landslides.

However, light vehicles were allowed to move forward after the landslides were cleared.

A traffic police official said the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh National Highway was through for traffic.

UNI BAS AK ND1912