Jammu-Srinagar national highway closed for fifth day

Kashmir Valley remained cut off from the rest of the country for the fifth day today as the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed for traffic due to snowfall and landslides triggered by heavy rains.

Around 1900 vehicles were stranded at Ramban, Banihal, Patnitop, Udhampur and Nagrota on the highway due to the
blockade, police said.

Besides the highway, inter-district Reasi-Mahore, Batote-Doda-Kishtwar, Rajour-BG-Poonch road and Bani-Bhaderwah
roads were closed due to landslides.

Heavy snowfall is continuing in various areas of Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri district besides in Bani-Basholi area of Kathua district.

The Jawahar Tunnel area also received snowfall and the weather office warned of avalanches in the stretch besides landslides at Panthyal and Ramban stretches of the highway.

Personnel of the Border Road Organisation were trying to clear the highway but heavy snowfall was making their job difficult.