Kashmir remains cut-off for the 6th day today

Srinagar, Feb 26 (UNI) The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained closed for the 6th consecutive day today due to landslides at Penthal.

About 5,000 passengers besides hundreds of trucks are stranded on the highway at different places, including Jammu since the highway was closed on February 21.

A traffic police official told UNI light passengers were allowed to cross Penthal, the most troubled spot, yesterday in the afternoon after damaged portion of the road was partially repaired. Traffic was again stopped when landslides occurred again.

He said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) responsible for the maintenance of the highway have pressed into service hundreds of workers and machine to undertake the repair work on a war footing.

Continued landslides in the area were badly affecting the repair work.

A passenger stranded near Penthal for the past five days said the BRO officials were carrying out blasts in the area and huge mud and landslides were coming down from the hilltop.

Keeping in view the intensity of the damage to 30 meters of road near Penthal, the authorities had officially announced to close the highway, the only road linking the valley with the rest of the country, till today to allow the BRO to undertake the repair work.

About 50 vehicles of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) were sent to Banihal to bring the passengers here who would reach there after crossing the five km hilly terrain on foot.

Official sources said only the young undertake the journey on foot while women, aged and children are still stranded at Ramban and Penthal with no government help.

Truck drivers alleged one kg of milk is being sold at Rs 20 while prices of all essential commodities has also increased many fold on the highway.

They said only few truckers were lucky to get the government controlled rice, sugar and kerosene oil while a majority had to buy in the black-market.

The prices of almost all-essential commodities, including local products, have gone up several fold without any check. Chicken, meat, eggs and milk shops are closed.

However, there was no shortage of gas and kerosene oil in the valley.

UNI