One-way traffic resumes on Srinagar-Jammu highway

Srinagar, Aug 15: Traffic was on Saturday resumed on the 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, after remaining closed since Thursday night due to massive landslides and shooting stones, triggered by rain.
However, the highway, the only road linking Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir valley and historic 86-km-long Mughal road are through for traffic though only vehicles carrying essentials and fruit are being allowed to ply.
A Traffic official said that traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway was resumed today after remaining closed due to a massive landslide at Mehad near Ramban. However, the National highway authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation(BRO) pressed into service sophisticated machines and men and the road was put through again.
He said today vehicles were allowed to ply from Srinagar to Jammu after Kashmir bound vehicles stranded on the highway due to landslides were cleared early this morning.
Passenger traffic on the highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, remained suspended since March this year when lockdown was imposed in the UT of J&K due to COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly buses carrying workers and labourers from outside were allowed to bring them to Kashmir valley from Jammu. However, a large number of these labourers tested positive to COVID-19.
However, trucks carrying essentials and oil tankers besides security force vehicles are being allowed to ply on the highway with some restrictions.
Traffic officials said Srinagar-Leh highway was through for traffic. Today essential commodity vehicles were allowed to ply Srinagar to different parts of the Ladakh UT. However, he said, drivers are requested to contact traffic police units before starting the journey. But, he said, no passenger vehicle will be allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Similarly, he said, the historic Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region. On Friday vehicles carrying fresh fruit from different parts of the valley will be allowed to ply towards Poonch, Jammu. However, the vehicles had to ply between 1100 hrs to 1600 hrs and no vehicle will be allowed after the deadline.