SRINAGAR The Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only surface link connection Kashmir with rest of the world, was closed for vehicles Tuesday due to landslides in Ramban district, an official said.
There was a landslide at the Panthiyal-Makarkote area on the highway resulting in blockade Tuesday afternoon, police said.
The authorities allowed traffic from the Kashmir Valley to Jammu on Tuesday but due slippery road conditions it was halted at Lower Munda area, they said.
The highway was reopened for traffic after six days long closure on Sunday night due to snowfall and multiple landslides at Jorhat Ramu and in various areas of Ramban district.
Today traffic movement disrupted on Jammu Srinagar highway due to continuously shooting stones/landslides. Subject to fair weather/road condition tomorrow on 30.01.2019, traffic movement on Jammu-Srinagar highway from Srinagar towards Jammu shall be allowed, a traffic department official said.
He said that the commuters are advised not to travel during night hours and no movement of any type of vehicle shall be allowed from opposite direction.
People are advised to undertake journey on highway only after confirming status of the road control rooms.
Meanwhile, Inspector General (IG) Traffic, Alok Kumar Tuesday visited the highway in Ramban and inspected crucial sliding areas to review the status of road clearance operations with the Police, Traffic Police and civil administration.
District Development Commissioner (DDC), Ramban, Showkat Aijaz Bhat, SSP, Ramban, Anita Sharma, SSP Traffic Sanjay Khajuria, Dy. SP. Traffic, Suresh Sharma and representatives of construction companies engaged in four laning project in the district were present on the occasion.
IG Traffic deliberated on the condition of the highway especially at Anokhifal, Digdol and other vulnerable locations and the necessary measures needed to be taken, with the local administration besides representatives of executing agencies. He directed the concerned to take adequate steps for ensuring smooth passage of traffic by removing hindrances and proper maintenance of the highway at all crucial places to ensure smooth and hassle free movement of vehicles especially during the snowfall and rainy season.
IG Traffic was informed that due to the ongoing highway widening work the road has been narrowed at various places.
Alok Kumar directed the concerned companies to ensure highway stretch is cleared of any landslide debris and properly regulate the traffic by tonight at Anokhifal, Digdol and other vulnerable locations for the convenience of the commuters.
He directed them to station adequate machinery on identified vulnerable spots including Panthal, Mehad, Mompassi, Marog, Nashri, Peeda, Anokhifal on the basis of the weather forecast, install crash barriers, Iron Mesh cum boulder guards, be always vigilant to minimise the reaction time and keep ready with proper plan besides men and machinery to clear landslides and bottlenecks in the traffic movement.
The DC discussed the location wise status of road with IGP, Traffic and said that despite intermittent landslides the vehicular traffic has been restored due to close coordination among the district administration and Traffic Police.
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