The strategic 270-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu national highway continued to remain closed for vehicular traffic for second consecutive day on Friday after fresh snowfall and landslides occurred at different stretches along the highway. The MeT department has predicted improvement in weather in the region.
Traffic officials said the road was closed due to slippery conditions triggered by fresh snowfall at Banihal while landslides blocked the road at some places in Banihal-Ramban sector.
They said subject to fair weather and road condition, the stranded vehicles on the highway will be cleared on priority. They clarified that no fresh traffic will be allowed on either side until stranded vehicles are cleared towards their destinations.
The highway remained closed for nearly two weeks in January due to landslides and snowfall along the highway.
The national highway was partially reopened last Saturday after remaining closed for six consecutive days due to unfavourable road condition besides continuous shooting stones and landslides at several places along highway.
The highway is the only road linking Kashmir with rest of the country.
Traffic officials said that Mughal Road and Srinagar Sonamarg Gumri Road are continuously closed due to snow accumulation.
They said travellers should confirm the status of the road from traffic control units in Srinagar, Ramban and Jammu or police control units before proceeding for day long travel. Similarly, the travellers have been advised to follow the cut off timing from various embarking points on both sides of highway to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
The closure of highway leads to shortage of essential supplies including fuel, as all supplies to the landlocked Kashmir Valley are routed through the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
Meanwhile, MeT Director Sonam Lotus said that weather is expected to improve from Friday afternoon in Kashmir and by evening in Jammu region. He said rain is likely to continue till late afternoon in most parts of Jammu region adding that weather is cloudy with likely snowfall on the hills of Ladakh region.
Due to a cloud cover the minimum temperatures remained around Zero degree Celsius in the valley. Srinagar was at minus 0.5, Pahalgam minus 3.6 and Gulmarg minus 7.6 degrees Celsius. Leh in Ladakh recorded minus 6, Kargil and Drass both recorded minus 16.8 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, Western Disturbance is likely to affect Valley especially Pir Panchal from February 5 which may continue till February 7.
MeT department officials said moderate snowfall is likely to occur across the Valley especially in Pir Panchal areas from next Tuesday to Thursday.
The Valley’s higher reaches including famous ski-resort and others including Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg as well as the plains received a fresh snowfall since Wednesday brining the temperature further down in the Valley.