Srinagar: The national highway, the only road connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir valley, was again closed due to fresh snowfall last evening.
Meanwhile, the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country and historic Mujhal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region remained through despite rain. However, traffic on Mughal road is being allowed only during the day.
A traffic police official told UNI that there was fresh snowfall at Sonmarg, Zojilla, Meenmarg and Zero point last evening forcing authorities to suspend traffic on the highway again.
There was more than six inches of snow at Sonmarg, he said adding the upper heights recorded more than a foot. The road has become very slippery forcing authorities to suspend traffic from both sides as a precautionary measure.
However, he said the highway was partially reopened yesterday after remaining closed on December 11 due to snowfall and slippery road conditions.
He said to avoid any accident or traffic jam, particularly at Zojilla pass, vehicles from Sonmarg in central Kashmir were allowed only after vehicles that left Drass and other areas reached here. All the vehicles have been cleared, he said.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintainance of the highway, has again pressed into service sophisticated machines and men on work to remove the snow. However, decision to allow traffic on the highway will be taken only after receiving green signal from the BRO and officials posted at different places, he said.
In the past the highway was being closed in the month of November for six winter months. However, for the past few years the highway remained open till there is heavy snowfall.
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