Kashmir highway closed, fresh snowfall seen

Srinagar, Nov 18: The Kashmir valley was cut off from the rest of the country after the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed for traffic due to landslides and shooting of stones triggered by heavy rains since early this morning.

However, all the incoming and outgoing flights from Srinagar airport operated normally.

The upper reaches in the Kashmir valley and Drass, the world's second coldest place after Siberia, experienced snowfall while plains were lashed by rains resulting in further cold condition.

Official sources said that hundreds of vehicles, including truck loaded with essential commodities are stranded at different places on the Sriangar-Jammu national highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.

They said traffic on the highway was suspended following landslides and shooting of stones between Ramban and Ramsu.

Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Abdul Hamid told UNI that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) responsible for the maintenance of the highway has pressed into service its men and machinery to clear the road.

Sources said fresh traffic from Srinagar and Jammu would be allowed only after clearing the stranded vehicles, including those carrying passengers.

A report from Kargil said more than two dozen vehicles, including 13 trucks and other passenger vehicles, are stranded at different places on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Drass-Kargil-Leh highway.

The highway was officially closed from November 15 after snowfall but still some vehicles are plying illegally.

A traffic police official said in Srinagar that all the traffic officials have been withdrawan from the highway after it was closed for six winter months officially. However, he said, some drivers are plying their vehicles illegally, risking the lives of passengers.

A Kargil report said ten trucks are stranded at Gumri, one at captain crossing and two at Shatan-nullah. About 87 passengers in several vehicles are also stranded on the highway after fresh snowfall between at different points.

It said that about 50 light vehicles and the Army convoy stranded on the highway for the past five days reached Drass last night.

Drass, where the temperature dips to minus 45 degrees during winter, and its adjoining areas experienced about one feet of fresh snowfall since yesterday.

The upper reaches in the Kashmir valley, including the world famous ski resort Gulmarg, Khilanmarg, Affarwat and Kongdori experienced fresh snowfall.

The other tourist places of Pahalgam, Yusmarg and Deksum also had fresh snowfall.

However, the summer capital, Srinagar, and its adjoining areas were lashed by rains disrupting normal life.

Almost all roads in the areas including Badshah Nagar, Natipora, Azad Basti, Bemina, Padshahi Bagh and Banapora Nowgam were under water as the drainage system, constructed after spending crores of rupees, was not functioning.

UNI