Kashmir remains cut off for 8th day, thousands stranded

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Srinagar, Mar 18 (UNI) The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway -- the life line to Kashmir -- remained closed for the eighth consecutive day today due to landslides and shooting stones.

If things go alright and weather remains dry for next 24 hours, traffic on the highway may be resumed partially tomorrow, Deputy sources in the office of Inspector General of Police (Traffic) told UNI.

They said following concern expressed by the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad over the frequent closure of the highway, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and local authorities have redoubled their effort to make the highway motorable as soon as possible.

The BRO, responsible for the maintenance of the highway, has pressed into service hundreds of workers and machiness to clear the landslides and repair the damaged portion of the highway at Penthal, the most trouble spot on the road, linking the valley with the rest of the country.

They are working round the clock, but keeping in view the intensity of the damage caused to the road by shooting stones, triggered by rains last week at Penthal, it may take another day to put through traffic, the sources said.

However, the traffic police, with the help of Divisional Administration, Jammu, and State Road Transpor Corporation (SRTC) has helped more than two thousand people, stranded at Jammu for the past two weeks, to reach Srinagar.

The authorities operated buses of SRTC with passengers, stranded at Jammu since March 10 upto Penthal. These passengers crossed Penthal on foot to board vehicles on the other side for Srinagar as there was no other alternative. Similarly those who had come from Srinagar had to cross Penthal on foot and board buses for Jammu.

About about six thousand passengers are stranded at Jammu, the sources added.

About a thousand vehicles, including trucks loaded with essential commodities are stranded on the highway after it was closed for traffic due to landslides triggered by heavy rains.

UNI

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