Fresh snowfall closes Jammu-Srinagar national highway

Jammu, Dec 11: Fresh snowfall and intermittent rains in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday led to closure of strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

Heavy rains and snowfall in upper reaches of the state triggered landslides and shooting stones at many places along the national highway on Friday.

"Shooting stones blocked the road at Kheri Udhampur and heavy motor vehicles have been stopped at Sangoor, Battal, Ballian areas of Udhampur in Jammu province along the highway and have been asked not to move forward," a senior traffic department official told IANS here.

He said continuous snowfall near the Jawahar tunnel at Banihal disrupted traffic along the national highway, which was blocked by accumulated snow.

"To avoid traffic congestion at Banihal, light motor vehicles are being stopped at Shaan Palace Ramban and heavy vehicles are being stopped at Chanderkot of Ramban district," the official said.

At Nagrota toll post, 10 km from here, all vehicles except those going to Udhampur town are stopped and not allowed to move ahead.

On Kashmir Valley side also, all Jammu bound vehicles have been halted, the official added.

The 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar national highway is the only surface link of the Kashmir Valley with outside world and all essential commodities of life are routed through this road.

IANS