Kashmir highway closed for second day due to heavy snowfall

Srinagar, Feb 5 (UNI) Traffic on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained suspended for the second day today due to heavy snowfall and landslides.

It was heavily snowing at Jawahar tunnel, Banihal, Qazigund and Patnitop where one feet to three feet had accumulated since last evening.

Traffic movement on the highway has become unpredictable as the only road, linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the world, often gets closed due to snowfall and landslides, triggered by rains.

''We have not allowed any traffic movement from Srinagar or Jammu this morning because of heavy snowfall between Jawahar tunnel and Banihal area,'' a traffic police official said.

He said the road was again blocked since yesterday following heavy snowfall.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway had pressed into service about 40 machines and hundreds of labourers to make the highway traffic worthy as soon as possible.

Official sources said hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers and truck loaded with essential commodities were stranded on the highway.

About hundreds of tourists and others were also stranded here.

Similarly a large number of passengers, including tourists, were stranded at Jammu and other points on the highway on the other side of the tunnel.

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