Srinagar, Dec 8: The National Highway, the only road connecting Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir and historic 86-km-long Mughal road were closed on Tuesday following fresh snowfall since Monday night.
However, despite rain the 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only all weather road linking Kashmir valley with the rest of the country was through for one-way traffic, a traffic police official told UNI this morning.
Today traffic will ply from Jammu to Srinagar only. Security forces will also ply from Jammu to Srinagar.
Traffic on Srinagar-Leh national highway was suspended on Tuesday morning following fresh snowfall. The road has become slippery due to accumulation of fresh snowfall, the official said, adding that there is also forecast for more snowfall during the next 24 hours.
He said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will put into service sophisticated machines once the snow stops as there is also threat of avalanches.
Traffic will be resumed only after receiving green signal, he said adding night traffic movement from 1800 hrs to 0900 hrs next morning will remain suspended on the highway between Gagangir and Sonamarg.
This year the government has decided to keep the highway open till December end. The highway remained closed during winter months due to accumulation of 10 to 15 feet of snow on the highway, particularly at Zojila, Meenmarg, Zero point, India gate and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia.
The historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, also was closed for any traffic movement today due to accumulation of snow, traffic official said.
Traffic on the road was resumed recently after remaining closed for over a week due to snowfall. The road, also seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu highway, remains closed for six winter months due to snow and avalanches. (UNI)
