PThe traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was affected for the fourth consecutive day Saturday due to intermittent shooting of stones from a hillock overlooking the only all-weather road linking Kashmir Valley with rest of the country.
No fresh vehicular traffic was allowed on the highway,either from Jammu or Srinagar, over the past three days owing to multiplelandslides and shooting of stones at several places, including Anokhi fall,Battery Cheshma and Mokey Morh in Ramban district, officials said.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had recently announcedclosure of the 270-km highway for civilian traffic on Sunday and Wednesdayevery week to allow smooth movement of security forces’ convoys.
With no movement of security convoy on Wednesday, theauthorities had allowed Srinagar-bound vehicles from winter capital Jammu, butthousands of commuters were left stranded on the highway following blocking ofthe road due to multiple landslides and shooting of stones triggered byrains.
Though road clearance agency pressed men and machines andremoved the debris from the road, the authorities decided against allowingfresh traffic on the highway on Thursday to facilitate over 2,500 strandedvehicles, the officials said.
However, a massive landslide again hit the road onThursday-Friday night at Monkey Morh, once again halting the movement of thetraffic.
The traffic was allowed Friday morning but continuousshooting of stones hampered the smooth movement of vehicles, theysaid.
“The road is open, but the traffic is moving at a slowpace due to intermittent shooting of stones at Monkey Morh. We are hopeful ofclearing the remaining 600 stranded vehicles, mostly trucks, by thisevening,” Senior Superintendent of Police, national highway, JatinderSingh Johar told PTI.
He said since there will be convoy movement on Sunday, nocivilian vehicle will be allowed from either Jammu or Srinagar.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) state secretary G N Malik said the ban oncivilian traffic has adversely affected horticulture sector in the Valley as hecalled for hassle-free movement of fruit-laden trucks.
“There is a large chunk of apples stored in coldstorage which require urgent transportation to various destinations in thecountry. The apple crop has been hit badly by the ban,” he said in astatement.
The Left leader urged the Governor administration to allowthese trucks to ply towards Jammu so that they reach their destinations well intime.
“The harvesting of cherry crop is expected to startfrom May and will continue till June in Kashmir valley and the growersassociated with it are extremely woeful as restrictions will hit thetransportation of this short lasting crop. The ban is unjustified and will makesmall-time farmers suffer,” he added.