Srinagar:The historic Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region remained closed due to three to four feet of snowfall at Pir-ki-Gali during the past four days. The road is likely to reopen only in April-May.
Simiarly, the national highway, linking the Ladakh region with Kashmir has also been closed for winter month following heavy snowfall and slippery road condition.
The Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road (Zojila Pass), which connects Kashmir valley with the Ladakh region, will remain closed for all types of vehicles till further notice, the authorities said.
Chief Engineer BRO said that the highway between Srinagar and Leh would reopened only in March or April.
Normally the highway was being closed from November Ist every year due to snowfall in the past. However, for the past several years due to dry weather the highway remained open even during December month also.
However, the highway from border town of Kargil to Leh will remain open though the condition of road will be reviewed on daily basis.
The government has already announced that Indian Air Force ( IAF) will operate AN-32 courier service to border town of Kargil from January, 10 2017 and it will remain operational during the whole winter season.
The AN-32 courier service would operate from Srinagar to Kargil and back thrice in a week whereas it will be operated from Jammu to Kargil and back twice in a week.
A number of roads to far flung and remote areas in north Kashmir, including road from Bandipora to border town of Gurez have also been closed due to heavy snowfall.
The road to Gurez will reopen only in April or May this year.
Several other roads to other major towns, including Keran, Karnah, Tanghdar and Machil have also been closed due to snowfall.
The district administration in north Kashmir has meanwhile, pressed into service machines and men to clear snow on the roads connecting far flung and remote areas with district and tehsil headquarters.
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