Ramban, May 1: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway reopened for two-way traffic of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles on Wednesday after remaining blocked for two days.
Multiple landslides at various locations between Nashri and Banihal in Ramban district forced the closure of the highway for two consecutive days since Monday.
“The highway was closed for traffic following a heavy downpour that led to the triggering of multiple landslides besides shooting at many places including Dalwass, Mehar, Cafeteria, Panthial, Nagarkot, Hingni, Ramsu, and Gangroo early Monday morning,” the officials regulating traffic in Ramban said.
“After the improvement in weather conditions on Tuesday, National Highway Authority India (NHAI) pressed its men and machinery to work at several locations to clear the accumulated debris.
The highway was restored for traffic at around 10 am.
Stranded LMVs and heavy vehicles were allowed to move on priority,” they said.
Later, LMVs were allowed to ply along both ways on Srinagar Jammu National Highway,” they said.
However, the movement of traffic between Nashri and Banihal was slow due to poor road conditions and the passage of nomads with their livestock, the officials said.
“LMVs and heavy vehicles carrying essential commodities for Kashmir were allowed from Jakhani in Udhampur towards Kashmir on Wednesday afternoon.
The traffic moved at a slow pace due to single-lane and slippery road conditions at Dalwass, Mehar, Seri, Panthial, Nagarkot, Hingni, Gangroo, Kishtwari-Pathar and other places,” they said.
The traffic officials advised the commuters to follow lane discipline as overtaking leads to congestion.
Meanwhile, traffic authorities said that Kashmir-bound LMVs were stopped at Nagrota in Jammu at 2:30 pm.
Similarly, Jammu-bound LMVs were stopped at Qazigund in Kashmir due to poor road surface conditions, slow traffic, and the movement of nomads with their livestock.
Traffic officials at Traffic Control Unit (TCU) Ramban late Wednesday evening said, “The highway is open and heavy vehicles are heading towards Kashmir in a regulated manner.”