Srinagar-Jammu highway reopens

Srinagar, Jun 25: Traffic on Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir valley with the outside world, was restored on Saturday after remaining suspended for four days, officials said.
Mughal Road, connecting Poonch and Rajouri with Shopian district of south Kashmir, also reopened after several hours’ closure due to landslide along the thoroughfare early today.
Thousands of vehicles, stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar highway since Tuesday evening, were allowed to move towards their respective destinations after landslide debris was removed in Samroli area of Udhampur district late Friday evening, they said.
Fresh traffic, they said, was allowed from both sides this morning and moved smoothly throughout the day.
The thoroughfare was blocked at nearly three dozen places by landslides and mudslides, mostly in Ramban and Udhampur districts, on June 21 evening following incessant rains, leaving over 3,000 vehicles, mostly trucks, stranded.
All stranded vehicles were cleared during the night hours, paving the way for resumption of normal traffic, they said. However, they said, road clearance work is in progress at many places.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), they said, was also undertaking repair work of the steel tunnel at Panthiyal which was damaged by shooting stones.
“To safeguard the lives of the people from shooting stones at Panthyal, NHAI has been directed by the government to repair the steel tunnel. Because of these repairs, traffic will remain suspended at Panthyal from 0430 hours to 0800 hours.”
On Sunday, they said, LMVs shall be allowed from both sides viz Jammu towards Srinagar and Vice versa.
Meanwhile, the Mughal, was blocked by a landslide at Mansar Morh near Peer Ki Gali in the early hours today.
SHO Surankote Niaz Ahmed said that the thoroughfare was reopened after closure for several hours.
“Subject to fair weather and good road condition, LMVs shall be allowed from both sides and HMVs shall be allowed from Srinagar towards Poonch on Mughal road. LMVs followed by HMVs will be released from Buffliaz (Poonch) towards Srinagar at 0900 hrs upto 1500 hours,” the traffic police said in a statement.
Regarding SSG Road, the traffic police said that subject to fair weather and good road condition, vehicular movement on Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari road shall be allowed from both side viz Srinagar towards Kargil and vice-versa on June 26. (GNS)