Landslides disrupt traffic on Srinagar-Leh highway, cold in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 5 (UNI) Traffic on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway was disrupted for several hours due to landslides, triggered by heavy rains at Gomri.

However, the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was through for traffic despite rains.

A traffic police official told UNI here that traffic on Srinagar- Leh highway was stopped today following landslides, triggered by heavy rains at Gomri.

However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to clear the highway.

Traffic was resumed in the afternoon after the landslides was removed from the highway, he said adding vehicles were later allowed to move towards their respective destinations.

The highway reopened on April 16, a month earlier than schedule date after the BRO cleared ten feet to 40 feet of accumulated snow on the highway. However, the highway was again closed next day for about a week after the entire road from Zojila to Drass experienced fresh snowfall.

Srinagar and its adjoining areas experienced heavy rains today resulting in drop in the temperature, much to the delight of tourists and locals who felt heat on May 3 when the temperature was recorded 29.5 degree Celsius, 7.5 degree above normal.

UNI BAS YSS KK AS1800