Umaisar Gull Ganie
Srinagar, Jan 24: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained closed for the second consecutive day on Saturday due to slippery road conditions caused by fresh snowfall, leaving over 3,000 vehicles stranded on the vital arterial road.
Officials said that incessant snowfall for the second consecutive night on the Ramban–Banihal and Qazigund stretch rendered the highway non-motorable.
“Snow accumulation and sub-zero temperatures during night hours made the road extremely slippery,” an official said, adding that men and machinery have been pressed into service to restore traffic movement at the earliest.
Many tourists were stranded on Qazigund side of the highway and were forced to return towards safer locations, he said.
Thousands of vehicles, including those stranded at Udhampur and Dhar Road, have remained stuck since the highway was closed on Friday evening. “More than 3,000 vehicles, including trucks carrying essential commodities, are stranded,” the officials said.
Meanwhile, other key routes, including the Mughal Road connecting Poonch–Rajouri with Shopian, Kishtwar–Sinthan–Kokernag road, and Srinagar–Sonamarg–Gumri road, also remained closed due to heavy snow accumulation.
IGP Traffic J&K, M. Suleman Choudhary, said that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and other concerned agencies are working on a war footing to restore the highway.
“There has been heavy snowfall, particularly in south Kashmir areas and at the south portal of the Navyug Tunnel, including Banihal, Ramsu and Nachlana. Due to this, the stretch from Navyug Tunnel to Banihal and Ramsu has been reduced to a single lane,” he said.
The IGP said clearance work is underway, but the road is yet to be restored. “Because of snowfall and cold night conditions, the road has become extremely slippery,” he said.
Choudhary further said that a decision on reopening the highway will be taken after receiving a green signal from NHAI. “Till then, the highway will remain closed for traffic movement,” he said, adding that the Batote stretch has been partially cleared, which was also closed earlier due to snowfall.
In a traffic advisory issued for Sunday, the Traffic Police said, “Jammu–Srinagar National Highway is still closed due to snow accumulation between Nachlana and the Navyug Tunnel. Jammu–Doda road is also closed. Snow clearance work is in progress.”
“Tomorrow, no vehicular movement shall be allowed from Nagrota (Jammu) towards Doda, Ramban, Banihal and Srinagar, and vice-versa,” the advisory said.
Commuters belonging to Katra, Reasi and Udhampur towns have been advised to carry valid photo identity cards to facilitate smooth movement, it added.
