Shooting stones again block highway

Vehicular traffic on 270-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was disrupted for the second consecutive day Friday due to shooting stones.

The vehicles stranded for the whole day included 20 busescarrying to the Valley hundreds of passengers who had completed 14-dayquarantine at Lakhanpur, officials said.

   

Senior Traffic police officials said more than 300-400trucks carrying essential commodities to the Valley were also stranded as theshooting stones at Cafeteria Morh caused difficulties in the smooth movement ofthe traffic.

Speaking with Greater Kashmir, Deputy Superintendent Police,Traffic (Highway), Ajay Anand said: “The landslides that occurred on Thursdayhave been cleared but incidents of shooting stones since today morning blockedthe highway again,” Anand said.

Anand who is stationed at Ramban said some trucks strandedsince Thursday were being allowed to move during the night time but the roadwas again closed for traffic on Friday morning. “As soon we start clearing thetraffic, shooting stones caused the trouble again.”

He said the stranded trucks and buses will be allowed tomove as soon the road re-opens but it all depends on when the shooting stoneswill stop.

Officials said the stranded quarantined persons were beingprovided all possible help such as food and refreshments.

The frequent closure of the highway has choked supplies tothe Valley at a time when people are reeling under hardships due to thesituation prevailing owing to the outbreak of covid19.

Traffic advisory:

A traffic advisory issued by the Traffic Police departmentsaid that subject to fair weather and road conditions only vehicles carryingessential items would be allowed to move on the highway on Saturday.

The advisory said trucks carrying essential goods will alsobe allowed to move on Srinagar-Leh highway depending on the condition of theroad.

“The Mughal Road connecting Shopian to Pir Panchal remainsclosed due to accumulation of snow,” it said.

Erratic Weather for 1 week

The Meteorological Department said that light to moderaterain with thunderstorm is most likely to occur at most places of Jammu andKashmir and at scattered places of Ladakh between Monday and Thursday.

Director MeT, Sonam Lotus said apart from the 4-day wetspell next week “a brief spell of rain with thunderstorm at isolated places ofJ&K is also possible from Friday to Sunday due to local weatherphenomenon.”

Lotus said there would be intermittent spells of rainfallthough there is no forecast for “any continuous heavy rainfall during next 7-10days.”

Meanwhile, a MeT Department advisory issued here asked thefarmers especially the orchard owners to spray their fruit plants before May 4to avoid any losses.

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