Ramban, Mar 14: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway reopened after 11 hours for scheduled two-way traffic of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and one-way traffic of heavy vehicles on Thursday afternoon.
Officials said, “Following heavy rains on Wednesday night, vehicular traffic on the highway was blocked for several hours due to landslides and shooting stones at several places between the Nashri and Banihal sectors on Thursday.”
They said that mudslides and shooting stones blocked the highway at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria, Chambalwass, Gangroo, Mom Passi, Nachlana and other places between Nashri and Banihal at around 2 am on Thursday.
“Due to the blockade, hundreds of vehicles, especially load carriers, remained stranded at various locations between Srinagar and Jammu,” they said.
Officials said that after the improvement in weather, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) pressed its men and machinery into service to clear the landslides and stones and traffic was restored this afternoon.
“Stranded vehicles were cleared on priority after that scheduled Light Motor Vehicles and passenger vehicles including heavy vehicles were allowed to ply towards their respective destinations in the afternoon,” they said. “Heavy rain between Udhampur and Banihal triggered tumbling of shooting stones and accumulation of mudslides, slush, and water logging at several places between Nashri and Banihal.”
Traffic authorities, late Thursday evening, said, “The highway is open for two-way traffic of LMVs. Heavy vehicles are being cleared in a regulated manner.”
They said that after clearing scheduled Jammu-bound heavy vehicles, heavy vehicles carrying essential commodities were also allowed from Jakhani-Udhampur to move towards Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the Traffic Department issued a fresh advisory for Friday stating that subject to fair weather and good road conditions, LMVs would be allowed to ply on either side of the highway.
They said that after clearing passenger vehicles, heavy vehicles would be allowed to ply from Qazigund in Kashmir towards Jammu on Friday.