The vital Srinagar-Jammu National highway was closed on Thursday due to fresh spell of rainfall in the plains and moderate snowfall in higher reaches in Kashmir Valley. The authorities cleared hundreds of stranded passengers and vehicles late in the evening with an advisory for people not to embark on fresh journey without confirmation on the road status.
Traffic Officials said that in view of snowfall on both sides of Jawahar Tunnel at Shaitan Nallah, Banihal, Qazigund, the vehicular traffic from Jammu towards Srinagar was stopped for the safety of travelers. They said over 1500 passenger and load carrier vehicles were stranded at Chanderkot, Ramban and Ramsoo stretches along the highway.
They said that no fresh traffic would be allowed on Thursday from either side of national highway owing to fresh snowfall on both sides of Jawahar Tunnel. They said subject to fair weather and road condition only stranded vehicles will be allowed to reach their destination. The road maintenance agencies are engaged in clearing the areas to facilitate the stranded vehicles and travellers to move towards their destination.
Meanwhile, MeT department predicted improvement in the weather. The minimum temperature in Srinagar city plummeted to 0.1 degree Celsius during the previous night while Pahalgam recorded 1.5 degrees and Gulmarg minus 9.5 degree Celsius temperature.