At least 300 vehicles are stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway as it was closed for traffic on Tuesday following snowfall in Jawahar Tunnel area and multiple landslides between Banihal and Chanderkote, the PTI quoted officials saying.
“Over 300 vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the highway due to landslides. The Jawahar Tunnel witnessed snowfall this morning. Traffic was suspended between Banihal and Qazigund towns,” the officials added.
For the past few days, incessant rainfall in most parts of the national highway, which is the only road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, has triggered landslides at nearly a dozen places between Banihal and Chanderkote.
Parul Bhardwaj, Deputy Superintendent of Police Traffic (National Highway Ramban), told news agency PTI that a few hundred vehicles were stranded on the road between Nashri and Chanderkote since Monday night.
“Despite incessant rain and the lurking threat of shooting stones, the men and machinery kept the highway open. The majority of the stranded vehicles in Ramban were cleared last night itself,” he said.
According to the official, a major landslide had struck the highway overnight at Cafeteria Morh, while the road is also closed by debris at many places including Maroog, Monkey Morh, Panthiyal, Digdole, Sherbibi and Shabinbas.
The officials have said that once the weather improves, all efforts would be made to ensure early restoration of the highway.
