Jammu-Srinagar highway closed for 2nd consecutive day

Jammu, April 6 (IANS) The strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed on Thursday for the second consecutive day due to landslides in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Incessant rain during the last 24 hours has triggered multiple landslides on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in the Ramban sector," traffic department officials here said.

"Keeping in view the safety of the travellers, no traffic shall be allowed to move on the highway from either Jammu or Srinagar side on Thursday.

"Intending travellers are advised to contact our control rooms in Jammu and Srinagar to know the latest status of the highway," the officials added.

The officials also said landslide clearance operations would be started only after the weather improves.

The highway had been closed on Wednesday due to landslides and shooting stones in Ramban sector.

Authorities are making arrangements to shift the stranded vehicles and their occupants to safer places on the highway to areas those are not prone to landslides.

Fresh snowfall also occurred during the night in Banihal sector of the highway.

The nearly 285-km highway is the lifeline of supplies for the landlocked Kashmir Valley.

All essentials of life including petroleum products, medicines, vegetables, poultry products and mutton are routed to the valley through this highway.

In order to reduce both the distance and the travel time on the highway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 9.2 km Nashri-Chenani tunnel that connects the Udhampur and Ramban districts.

The tunnel has reduced 31-km long distance on the highway as it by-passes the Batote-Patnitop-Kud stretch of the original road.

Besides saving around two hours of travel time, the state of art tunnel would also result in a daily saving of Rs 27 lakh in terms of fuel used by vehicles.