Kashmir remains cut off from rest of country, thousands stranded

Srinagar, Jan 6 (UNI) The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, remained closed since last evening due to heavy snowfall and rain, official sources said.

Meanwhile, about a dozen roads in north Kashmir were also closed for traffic following one feet to three feet of snowfall.

No vehicle was allowed to for leave Srinagar or Jammu this morning as the highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with rest of the country, remained closed following heavy snowfall between Qazigund to Banihal and rains in Ramban and Ramsu area, sources said.

They said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway has pressed into service machines and labourers to make the highway traffic worth.

They said hundreds of vehicles including carrying passengers and essential commodities are stranded on the highway between Ramban and Udhampur.

A traffic police official said the stranded vehicles would be allowed to proceed towards their respective destination once the BRO declared the highway safe for journey.

A report from Baramulla said about dozen roads were closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall.

It said the roads closed included Kupwara, Karin, Gureez and Karnah.

UNI BAS MYK SY RK1402