Kashmir highway closed due to landslides

Srinagar, Dec 13 (UNI) The Kashmir valley was again cut off from the rest of the country following the closure of 300-km-long Srinagar- Jammu national highway due to landslides.

All the incoming and outgoing flights, including those carrying the Haj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir to Jeddah, operated normally.

A traffic police official told UNI, traffic on the highway, was again suspended last night after fresh landslides and falling of rocks at Penthal.

He said no fresh vehicle was allowed to leave Jammu or Srinagar this morning.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintainance of the highways has pressed men and machines into service to clear the highway.

Official sources said hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers, are stranded on the highway.

The highway reopened on December 11 after remaining closed for seven days but was again blocked yesterday due to landslides. Traffic was resumed in the afternoon. The authorities had decided to allow Jammu to Srinagar traffic today in case the highway remained safe for undertaking the journey.

Sources said a major portion of a mountain at Penthal was sinking causing landslides.

A portion of the road in that area has also been damaged due to landslides, they said adding BRO is making all efforts to repair it.

About 2,000 passengers, mostly labourers from outside the state, are stranded here for the past eight days.

UNI BAS LS DS1250