Ramban, Apr 19: The Srinagar- Jammu National Highway was closed due to landslides and shooting stones between the Nashri and Banihal section amid heavy rains since Friday afternoon.
Traffic authorities said heavy rains led to landslides and shooting stones at several places along the National Highway.
They said the highway was blocked due to landslides and shooting stones at Gangroo, Kishtwari Pathar, Dalwass, Mehad –Cafeteria, Morh between Nashri and Banihal.
Due to blockade hundreds of vehicles, especially load carriers are stranded at various locations between Jammu and Srinagar.
Officials said earlier during the day National Highway 44 was closed due to the rolling of rocks, heavy boulders and landslides in the Gangroo area between Ramban and Banihal.
They said traffic was restored at around Friday 5 pm, after remaining blocked for six hours and some stranded vehicles were cleared.
They said National Highway 44, after remaining open for some time, a heavy spell of rain again lashed the area leading to mud and landslides at three different places between Nashri and Banihal.
They said the National Highway is blocked at Gangroo, Kishtwari Pathar and on Mehad=Cafeteria stretch of Ramban.
They said heavy rain between Nashri and Banihal caused intermittent triggering of shooting stones, accumulation of mudslides, slush, and water logging at several places and between Nashri and Banihal.
They said no fresh traffic was allowed from Jammu and Srinagar due to the closure of National passes through the Ramban district on Friday.
Due to the closure of the road vehicles were stopped at safer places at different locations between Udhampur and Qazigund.
Traffic officials in Ramban said road restoration work was started amid rain and some stranded passenger vehicles were cleared via Maitra, Ramban’s old alignment of Jammu Srinagar National Highway to bypass the Mehad-Cafeteria stretch.
They said efforts are being made to clear the landslides but continuous rain is hampering the road restoration works.
Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police National Highway Ramban, Rohit Baskotra Friday late this evening said that National Highway 44, is closed at three different places including Dalwass, Mehad-Cafeteria between Nashri and Banihal for every type of vehicular movement.
He said National Highway, 244, is open for every type of traffic. He said efforts are being made to clear the road.
He advised commuters and vehicle operators not to undertake journeys on National Highway 44, without confirming the status of the road from TCU Srinagar, Jammu, Udhampur and Ramban on Saturday.