Traffic resumes on Srinagar-Leh highway, Mughal road still closed

Srinagar, Dec 23: Only one-way traffic was resumed on the highway, connecting Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh region with Kashmir valley, and dozens of vehicles, mostly trucks stranded at Kargil, Drass and other places were allowed to move towards Srinagar on Wednesday.
However, the historic 86-km-long Mughal road and Anantnag-Sampthan road remained closed due to accumulation of heavy snow and slipper road conditions.
Meanwhile, Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) from Srinagar to Jammu while only stranded Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) and security forces are advised to ply from Jammu to Srinagar.
Official sources said only one-way traffic has been resumed on 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway after remaining suspended for about two weeks due to accumulation of snow and strong winds coupled with below freezing temperature which resulted in slippery road condition, particularly at Zojila pass.
Today vehicles were allowed to ply from different parts of Kargil towards Srinagar, sources told UNI.
Dozens of vehicles, mostly truckers from Punjab, were stranded at Kargil, Drass and other places for the past two weeks due to closure of the Srinagar-Leh highway.
The road was closed due to accumulation of snow and strong winds. The authorities have decided to keep the highway open till the weather permits. The centre has sanctioned a tunnel at Zojila to make it all weather road, which remained closed due to snowfall during winter months.
A traffic police official said the Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region also remained closed due to accumulation of snow. There is very little chance of reopening of the road which is seen as alternative to Srinagar-Jammu highway. The road which was this summer used for transportation of fresh fruit from Kashmir to other parts of the country, remained closed during winter months due to heavy snowfall every year.
The Anantnag-Sampthan road, linking south Kashmir with Kishtwar in Jammu also remained closed due to snow.
He said LMVs will ply from Srinagar to Jammu on Wednesday and vehicles had to cross Zig Qazigund between 1000 hrs to 1400 hrs. The HMVs, stranded at Jakheni Udhampur and Nashree tunnel are allowed to move towards Srinagar on the highway, he said adding security forces are also advised to ply from Jammu to Srinagar.