Chaos and confusion prevailed at Srinagar-Leh highway on Wednesday as hundreds of vehicles, including load carriers laden with essential commodities, reached Gund and Sonamarg areas, ahead of the reopening of this strategic road.
The vehicles were awaiting a nod to move towards Kargil.However the police didn’t allow any vehicle to move ahead from Gund, which ledto a massive traffic jam on the highway.
Drivers said that they had heard that the road is beingreopened on 25 April for traffic.
A police officer toldGreater Kashmir that the highway is yet to be thrown open officially. “It’srisky to allow the vehicles in view of the inclement weather conditions.”
“The road is cleared. However, it will take few days tocomplete widening work. The decision to reopen it for traffic would be taken bythe higher authorities,” said, an official of the Border Road Organisation.
Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer AhmedKhan, said that the Srinagar-Leh highway would be thrown open in next 2-3 days.”The snow clearance work is completed. The road is damaged at some spotswhich need to be repaired,” he added.