Srinagar, Jan 16: The Srinagar-Jammu highway, which was thrown open for one-way traffic yesterday evening, witnessed acute traffic mess on Sunday, giving tough time to passengers.
 Reports said about 2000 vehicles remained stranded between the Udhampur-Ramban stretch of the highway—the Valley-s only link with rest of the world—due to acute traffic jam. The vehicles moved at a snail’s pace, they said.
 The highway was thrown open for the one way traffic (Jmu to Sgr) last evening.
 Some stranded passengers, who spoke to Greater Kashmir over phone, alleged that the traffic police cops failed to manage traffic. “Even as the traffic movement was one-way, vehicles from both sides were allowed,” said Ghulam Qadir, a passenger. “More than 2000 vehicle are stranded on both sides of the highway at Udhampur, Chenani, Kud, Patnitop and Batote.”
 Another passenger Muhammad Sultan said it took him five hours to cover seven-kilometers of distance from Kud to Patnitop.
 Official sources said only 300 light motor vehicles were able to cross the Banihal

tunnel till 5 PM while thousands of vehicles were stilling moving slowly.
 The stranded drivers alleged the state government had not made any arrangements for them. “The food on the highway is sold at exorbitant rates,” they said.
 When contacted, the Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Rural Kashmir, GM Wadoo said the slippery road between Patnitop and Batote hindered the smooth movement of traffic.
 “There was slow movement on the route till afternoon owing to slippery road. We have decided that traffic would again ply from Jammu to Srinagar tomorrow (Monday) so that the stranded vehicles are cleared," he said.
 Meanwhile, after fresh snowfall, an intense cold wave has gripped the Valley, with weatherman forecasting light snow and rainfall in next 48 hours.
 Assistant Meteorological Officer, RL Pandita said light rain or snow might occur in isolated places in Kashmir division and hills of Jammu region in next 48 hours.
 Pahalgam and Gulmarg recorded minimum temperature of minus 16.1 and minus 14.2 degree Celsius.
 The Srinagar city witnessed minimum temperature of minus 3.7 degree Celsius last night.
 Meanwhile, the state government said that all the major roads in Kashmir have been cleared and electricity has been restored in 40 percent areas of Kashmir.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Masood Samoon said: “We are on road widening job and there are some problems due to slippery conditions on Gulmarg-Tangmarg and Srinagar-Jammu highway.”
 Samoon said that 40 percent electricity has been restored and the supply would improve by Monday evening.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 16 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 16 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST