E-Paper
Jammu-Srinagar highway reopened partially after 2-day shutdown due to landslides
Vehicles were stranded at various locations on the highway after major landslides in Ramsoo and Magarkote areas of Ramban district early Saturday blocked the road.
The 294-kilometre-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway, Kashmir’s main surface link with rest of the country, was reopened partially late Sunday evening after remaining closed for over 44 hours due to massive landslides in Ramban that had left more than a thousand vehicles stranded at various locations.
Road clearance operation was going on in full swing to remove the remaining debris. The Hindustan Construction Company, which is building the four-lane road from Ramban to Banihal is engaged in road clearance work.
“After hectic efforts, the road was cleared for one-way traffic this evening and accordingly the stranded vehicles are being allowed towards their respective destinations,” an official said.
Officials said the decision to allow traffic from Jammu and Srinagar on Monday would be taken after reviewing the latest situation overnight. They requested commuters to contact traffic control rooms before starting their journey on the highway.
A major road clearance operation was launched immediately after the landslide but intermittent rains hampered the early reopening of the arterial road. Although landslides from couple of locations were cleared on Saturday evening, a fresh landslide again blocked the highway near Ramsoo town.
Some stranded passengers were seen crossing the affected area on foot on Sunday to reach other side of the highway for their onward journey to their respective destinations while many vehicles have returned to the places of their origin.
Hundreds of stranded passengers stayed overnight Saturday at Ramban in a camp established by the local administration, where they were provided free food and lodging.
“No vehicle was allowed to move from either Jammu or Srinagar on the highway today. The highway restoration work is at full swing and it is expected that by late evening, the road will be made traffic worthy for one way movement of vehicles,” Banihal’s deputy superintendent of police (traffic), Vishal Manhas said earlier in the day.
Vehicles were stranded at various locations on the highway including Udhampur, Kud, Ramban, Ramsoo and Qazigund after major landslides in Ramsoo and Magarkote areas of Ramban district early Saturday blocked the highway.
(With PTI inputs)
