Kashmir highway closed again for 2nd day, thousands stranded

Srinagar, Mar 21 (UNI) The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained closed for the secondconsecutive day today due to landslides and shooting stones, triggered by fresh rains.

Meanwhile, about five thousand passengers, besides two thousand trucks loaded with essential commodities are stranded at different points on the highway, the only road linking the valley with the rest of the country.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police (Traffic) Mohammad Amin Shah told UNI that traffic on the highway remained suspended due to fresh landslides and shooting stones at Penthal, the most trouble some spot on the highway.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway have pressed into service hundreds of workers and machines to clear the highway. However, fresh rains had triggered more landslides, damaging a portion of the road in the area.

Mr Shah said another 1000 trucks loaded with different essential commodities are ready to move towards Srinagar while one thousand more are waiting in Jammu.

Once a green signal is received from the BRO and traffic police posted at different points on the highway, the stranded vehicles, including those carrying passengers and essential commodities would be allowed to move towards their respective destinations.

Official sources said about 1000 vehicles, including those carrying passengers, are stranded at different points on the highway as it was closed for traffic in the afternoon on March 19 because of landslides. Majority of these vehicles had left Jammu in the afternoon and could not cross Penthal in time.

About one thousand passengers are stranded at different points on the highway while another four thousand passengers are still stuck in Jammu.

UNI