SRINAGAR: Traffic was restored partially on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on Tuesday after weather conditions improved across Jammu and Kashmir, a traffic department official said here.
“The highway has been restored for one-way traffic. Vehicles were allowed to move only from Srinagar to Jammu,” the official added.
It was closed for five days due to multiple landslides and fresh snowfall, stranding over 3000 vehicles carrying passengers and essential supplies. The closure had resulted in immense problems for the passengers who were left to fend for themselves. Many of them had to walk by foot to reach their destinations.
More than five thousand (5000) vehicles plied from Srinagar towards Jammu on Tuesday, IG Traffic, Shafqat Watali told the Kashmir Observer. Many vehicles are yet to reach winter capital.
The Traffic police chief, however, informed, the condition of the highway is not clear yet as landslides occur occasionally.
According to Traffic Police officials, 1990 LMVs, 2870 HMVs, 270 tankers, 34 buses, and other 154 vehicles crossed Jawahar tunnel towards Banihal by 06:30 PM today.
The closure of the highway always results in scarcity of essentials for the landlocked Kashmir Valley.
Watali added, in case of fair weather, we will allow traffic to ply from Jammu towards Valley as many vehicles loaded with essentials area waiting green signal from us.
Avalanche Warning Issued For Kupwara
SRINAGAR: Divisional Administration Kashmir Tuesday issued a medium danger avalanche warning for next 24-hours for avalanche prone areas of district Kupwara.
Medium danger avalanche warning valid for next 24-hours from February 07 to February 08, 2017 (1700 hrs) exists for avalanche prone slopes above 2500m altitude in Kupwara district of Kashmir Division, a statement of the Divisional Administration said.
Accordingly, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara has been asked to take precautionary measures and advise people not to venture in avalanche prone areas during the aforementioned period.
Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti held a meeting with railway officials and others on Monday to work out modalities of allowing vehicular traffic through the Qazigund-Bannihal railway tunnel during heavy snowfall in the Bannihal sector.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has approved the alternative.
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