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After 4 days, Kashmir highway partially restored to clear stranded vehicles
Partial reopening of the national highway has allowed several stranded vehicles to move towards Srinagar
After remaining blocked for four straight days, the 270 km long Jammu-Srinagar national highway was partially restored by Saturday afternoon but only for vehicles stranded for the last 4 days. SSP national highway J S Johar said that while Kashmir highway has been temporarily and partially restored from Jammu to Srinagar, only stranded vehicles are being cleared and no fresh traffic is allowed from Jammu till Dalwas stretch in Ramban, till the highway is restored completely.
The official, however, hoped that the stretch in Dalwas will be fully restored by Saturday evening. A portion of road had been washed away in a mudslide at Dalwas on Wednesday in Ramban district.
A local from Batote said, “This morning only Kashmir-bound vehicles stranded between Ramban and Valley were being allowed to proceed to their destinations in Kashmir but in the afternoon Dalwas was partially restored. Light motor vehicles are being allowed to pass Dalwas stretch where mud and slush are causing great inconvenience to the vehicles.”
The up-traffic is moving cautiously due to slippery road conditions, he added.
Landslides have been cleared from Marog, Digdol, Monkey Morh, Cafeteria Morh, Mompassi and Panthial, he said.
The weather has also opened up in Ramban, situated at the highest altitude on Kashmir highway.
“It is bright and sunny today,” said the local, adding that daily commuters know that landslides are triggered when weather turns dry soon after rains as loose rocks and soil come off the hills.
“NHAI has pressed its men and machines to completely restore the highway. At Dalwas we are at work to restore the stretch,” said an NHAI official.
After moderate to heavy rains in J&K since Tuesday, rains stopped Friday afternoon.
