Jammu-Srinagar National Highway reopens after two-day closure
The traffic on the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was suspended on Thursday morning after the road was damaged by a landslide at Kishtwar Patheri near Sherbibi, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides.
Vehicular movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway resumed early Saturday after remaining suspended for two days following multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains and snowfall, officials said.
However, the traffic department advised commuters to follow lane discipline and drive cautiously as part of the arterial road near Sherbibi in Ramban district is single-lane and also slippery at a number of places.
The traffic on the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was suspended on Thursday morning after the road was damaged by a landslide at Kishtwar Patheri near Sherbibi, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides.
The snowfall also left the road slippery at various places between Ramban and Banihal, while several landslides triggered by rains blocked the road at Magerkote, Panthiyal, Mehar, Cafeteria Morh and Dalwas.
After hectic efforts, the concerned road clearance agencies cleared the debris and allowed stranded vehicles to move towards their respective destinations late Friday afternoon, paving the resumption of normal traffic from both sides this morning, the officials said.
A traffic department official said the strategic 434-km Srinagar-Leh National Highway and the Mughal Road connecting the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region with south Kashmir's Shopian district are still blocked due to heavy snowfall.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the Meteorological department forecast wet weather till Sunday evening and advised travellers to follow official advisories before starting their journey.
In its weather update, the MeT department predicted the possibility of light to moderate snow or rain at many places on Saturday, the possibility of light to moderate snow or rain at most places with chances of heavy snowfall over isolated higher reaches on Sunday.
“Middle and higher reaches of the north, north-western and central parts (of Kashmir) may receive 7-10 inches of snow, lower reaches and plains may receive 3-6 inches, while plains of central Kashmir may receive rain with 1-2 inches of snow,” the spokesperson said.
“Middle and higher reaches of south Kashmir may receive 12-15 inches of snow, while lower reaches and plains may receive 6-9 inches. Plains of Jammu division may receive light to moderate rain with thunder/lightning,” the spokesperson said.
He said light to moderate snow over higher reaches of Pirpanjal Range and Chenab Valley with heavy snowfall over isolated higher reaches of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts of Jammu region are expected till Sunday night.
Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Retirement Planning: SIP+SWP combination; Rs 15,000 monthly SIP for 25 years and then Rs 1,52,000 monthly income for 30 years
Top Gold ETF vs Top Large Cap Mutual Fund 10-year Return Calculator: Which has given higher return on Rs 11 lakh investment; see calculations
Retirement Calculator: 40 years of age, Rs 50,000 monthly expenses; what should be retirement corpus and monthly investment
SBI 444-day FD vs Union Bank of India 333-day FD: Know maturity amount on Rs 4 lakh and Rs 8 lakh investments for general and senior citizens
EPF vs SIP vs PPF Calculator: Rs 12,000 monthly investment for 30 years; which can create highest retirement corpus
Home loan EMI vs Mutual Fund SIP Calculator: Rs 70 lakh home loan EMI for 20 years or SIP equal to EMI for 10 years; which can be easier route to buy home; know maths
01:49 PM IST