Srinagar-Jammu highway still closed on sixth day

Srinagar, Sep 6 (UNI) The 300-km Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the lifeline of Kashmir valley, continued to remain closed on the sixth consecutive day today due to shooting stones and landslides triggered by heavy rains at various places.

A traffic official here denied that the highway had been opened for traffic as suggested by some media reports, He said the authorities were making efforts to rescue the stranded passengers. All stranded vehicles were only being allowed to move to their respective destinations since last evening, the official added.

He said the highway would de opened only after it was cleared of the landslides. The highway would first be opened for one way traffic only, the official added.

Many parts of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway up to Qazigund have been inundated with flood water. About 30 mt of road near Himgiri Nullah (Gangu Pass) between Ramsoo and Ramban had been badly damaged due to landslides.

However, the 434-km Srinagar-Leh highway was opened for light motor vehicles yesterday, four days after it was closed due to landslides at several places.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) men have been mobilised and were working overtime to clear the highway.

Hundreds of passengers and vehicles stranded at several places along the highway were yesterday allowed to move towards Srinagar and Jammu.

However, the air traffic to and from the summer capital was normal. Their has been no disruption to air traffic despite heavy downpour and the flood situation in the Valley.

Due to the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the Kashmir valley was facing acute shortage of essential commodities.

UNI AG SK BST1436