Travelers advised not to undertake any journey without contacting control rooms
Srinagar: The Srinagar-Jammu National highway after remaining closed for three days is likely to be reopened today.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Traffic, Jagjit Singh on Wednesday said that the Srinagar-Jammu national highway is likely to be opened tomorrow. However he informed that the authorities will first clear stranded vehicles, including goods carrier and passenger buses.
The highway remained closed for the third consecutive day Wednesday, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on the road.
The IGP further said that the continuous rain and snow resulted in landslides at different points on the highway, leading to the stoppage of the vehicular traffic.
The stretch from Banihal to Ramban is the worst-affected portion as major landslides were reported at Panthal, Chamalwas, Magerkor, Marog and Ramsoo. Some small landslides were also reported on the Udhampur-Chenani road.
Jagjit Singh further said that the snow clearance operation in Bannihal and landslide debris removal elsewhere has started. However, travellers are advised not to undertake any journey without contacting our control rooms in Jammu and Srinagar.
Meanwhile, scores of valley-bound passengers were stranded in Jammu. They have been complaining of running out of money as hotels and restaurants have been charging exorbitant rates.
Mughal Road which serves as an alternative surface link between the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region was also closed on Tuesday following heavy snowfall in the Pir Ki Gali stretch.
(With inputs from KNS)