Jammu-Srinagar National Highway reopens for light motor vehicles

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, reopened today for light motor vehicles after remaining shut for four days, traffic police officials said today.

The highway had been closed on March 1 due to landslides triggered by heavy rain and snowfall at Jawahar Tunnel, Banihal and Patnitop areas and has been re-opened for LMVs only, the officials said.

Only one way traffic from Jammu to Srinagar was allowed till 12.30 pm today, they said, adding, after that no vehicle was allowed to cross the Nagrota check point in Jammu district.

Over 370 vehicles, including 81 passenger vehicles, had been stranded at various points of the highway due to the closure.

The officials said the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar link, however, remained closed for the second consecutive day today following landslides, adding that no vehicles were allowed to ply on the stretch.

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) officials are working round-the-clock to clear the highway of debris from the landslides, they said.

This is the second time that the 300-km-long highway remained closed for as many days. The highway is the only surface link used for bringing in goods supplies, fuel and other necessary items to the Valley.