Traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway suspended

Srinagar, Oct 6 (UNI) Traffic on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was suspended today in view of the curfew and tense atmosphere in the Kashmir valley, official sources said.

They said because of curfew in the entire valley, including summer capital Srinagar, and apprehension of trouble, the authorities decided to suspend traffic on the highway, the only road linking the kashmir valley with rest of the country.

No vehicle was allowed to leave from Jammu or Srinagar this morning, they said adding that the vehicles, including trucks loaded with essential commodities for Srinagar also remained stranded on the other side of Jawahar tunnel.

The authorities imposed curfew yesterday at 0500 hrs to prevent people from attending the 'Lal Chowk Chalo' march, call for which has been given by the Coordination committee (CC), spearheading the present agitation in the valley. It is, among other things, demanding release of all detenues, withdrawal of troops and special powers to security forces and start of cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade and free movement.

This is for the first time the highway has officially been closed for traffic for reasons other than landslides and snowfall.

UNI BAS ARB KN1127