JK cut off for 2nd day, many stranded on highway

Srinagar, Dec 6: Hundreds remained stranded on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway for the second day today after the road was closed due to landslides and shooting of stones, triggered by heavy rains.

Official sources said fresh landslides were reported between Ramban and Ramsu due to heavy rains since last evening.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintainance of the highway and the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, has pressed into service about 250 labourers and other workers to clear the highway.

About seven sophisticated machines are working round the clock to clean up landslides and stones on the highway, sources said.

However, continued rains in the area are triggering more landslides.

A traffic police official said that no vehicle was allowed from Jammu or Srinagar today. Traffic will be resumed only when a green signal is received from traffic officials posted at different points on the highway, he said adding that stranded vehicles would be given preference to move towards their respective destination once the highway is reopened.

Official sources said more than 300 trucks loaded with essential commodities and fruits and passenger vehicles are stranded on either side of the highway.

The district authorities in north Kashmir have also pressed into service snow clearance machines and engaged labourers to remove the accumulated snow on the road.

UNI