Srinagar, Nov 07: While the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir and historic Mughal road remained closed for the 7th day on Wednesday due to the accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions, the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained open for one-way traffic, an official said.
He said traffic remained suspended on Ladakh highway due to the accumulation of several feet of snow. The road has become slippery as snow has also frozen at several places due to sub-zero temperatures. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has already pressed into service sophisticated machines and men on the job to put through the highway, the official said.
He however added that it will take some more time and traffic will be resumed only after weather and road condition improves. Snow clearance operation was going on from both Meenmarg and Sonamarg sides, he said.
Meanwhile, a large number of Ladakh-bound vehicles, particularly trucks carrying essential commodities and oil tankers, are stranded at Sonamarg in central Kashmir Ganderbal district since Thursday. Similarly, Kashmir-bound empty trucks and oil tankers are stranded at several places, including Drass, Kargil and Meenmarg on other side of the Zojila.
No traffic will be allowed on the highway until a green signal is received from traffic police officials posted at different places and BRO, he said.
Traffic remained suspended on the Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region as snow clearance operation could not be completed so far.
He said snow clearance operation was going on from both sides. However, due to below freezing point temperature particularly during the night, snow had frozen due to which the road has become slippery particularly at and around the Pir-ki-Gali.
The district administration of Rajouri and Poonch and Shopian are working to put open the road which remains closed during winter months due to heavy snowfall. Only a few kms are left where the snow clearance was going on.
The Central government has already announced to construct a tunnel to make it an all-weather road, as this road is also seen as an alternative to Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
Officials said only one-way traffic was plying on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Wednesday. Today traffic plied from Jammu to Srinagar only and no vehicle from opposite direction was allowed, he added.
