Srinagar: Traffic on the national highway, connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of India, was disrupted for several hours after a tanker turned turtle in Ramsu area this morning.
However, traffic has been resumed and vehicles will ply from Jammu to Srinagar today since only one-way traffic will continue on the highway.
Meanwhile, national highway, linking Ladakh region with Kashmir, historic Mughal road and several other road communications leading to far flung and remote areas, which remained cut off due to snowfall since January, are likely to reopen next month.
Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers and trucks loaded with essentials, particularly fresh vegetables, left Jammu for Kashmir this morning, a traffic police official told UNI.
He said no vehicle, including Army and other paramilitary forces, will be allowed from opposite direction to avoid any traffic jam as the highway is still under repair at some places where only one vehicle can pass.
Traffic on the highway was disrupted after an oil tanker turned turtle in Ramsu area. However, authorities immediately swung into action and clear the tanker and allowed traffic later, he said.
Official said that only one-way traffic will continue on the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national till further orders.
However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway has been working round the clock to make it safe for two-way traffic.
Meanwhile, the BEACON authorities are working on war footing to clear snow, particularly at Zojila pass, to put through the highway, connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir.
Similarly snow clearance is also going on to reopen the historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, which remained closed for the past three months due to snow. There is ten feet to 12 feet of snow at some places on the road, which is seen as alternative to Jammu-Srinagar highway.
Officials said the road is likely to reopen by April 15 provided there is no fresh snow.
Dozens of village, including near the LoC in Machil sector remained cut off from district headquarter due to accumulation of several feet of snow.
The border town of Gurez, surrounded by Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK), also remained cut off from district headquarter Bandipora due to snow. The road is likely to reopen in summer.
A number of other far flung and remote areas also remained cut off from their respective district headquarters.
Weather To Remain Pleasant Today
Weather remained pleasant for the third day today due to sunshine while the night temperature also witnessed further improvement and settled above normal across Kashmir valley.
Meanwhile, with the onset Spring, Asias largest tulip garden, on the foothill of Zabarwan hills, which is the main attraction for thousands of visitors every year, will be thrown open for public from April 1.
Even though there was an improvement of about 2 degree from yesterday in the border town of Kargil, it was still the coldest place in the region at minus 4.2 degree, followed by Leh, where mercury dipped about 3 degree from yesterday and settled at minus 2.8 degree.
A Met department spokesperson told UNI that weather will remain dry during the next 24 hours in the state. But, he predicted a fresh spell of wet weather from March 28.
The mercury at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, which is about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, also witnessed an improvement of over 2 degree though it was still over 1 degree below normal. Against minus 2 degree recorded yesterday, the night temperature at Gulmarg was 0.4 degree.
After witnessing an improvement in the night temperature due to partly cloudy skies, people woke up to sunny morning in the summer capital, Srinagar. Against 5.7 degree recorded yesterday at Srinagar, the night temperature was 6.5 degree, over a degree above normal. Yesterday, the temperature during the day was several degree above normal due sunshine.
The night temperature at Qazigund, gateway to Kashmir valley, on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, witnessed an improvement of 1 degree from yesterday and settled at 4.2 degree.
World famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, also witnessed a marginal improvement in the night temperature. Against 0.3 degree recorded yesterday in Pahalgam, the night temperature was 0.6 degree, which is slightly above normal.
The night temperature at another health resort of Kokernag also witnessed an improvement as mercury surged and settled at 6.5 degree, against 6 degree recorded yesterday. However, the mercury remained constant since yesterday in Kupwara in north Kashmir at 3.3 degree.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
