Srinagar-Jammu highway remains closed for 2nd day following landslides

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], Feb. 22 (ANI): The Kashmir valley remained cut off from the rest of the country for the second consecutive day, following closure of 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar national highway due to landslides at some places. Traffic Control Room official said men and machinery have been pressed into service to clear off the muck left behind by the landslides and the road is expected to reopen for traffic tomorrow. Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying essentials for the Kashmir valley, have been stopped at Udhampur, Nagrota and other places. A large number of Jammu-bound empty trucks and oil tankers are stranded at Qazigund and other places. A spokesman of the Meteorological Department said most parts of the Valley received rains overnight, while Pahalgam recorded fresh snowfall of about 20 cm. Meanwhile, the night temperature across Kashmir division, including Ladakh region, went down last night. The spokesman said there is possibility of light rainfall or snow, especially in the higher reaches of Kashmir, today, after which the weather is likely to remain dry. The commuters have been advised not to undertake journey on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in case of bad weather. They have been asked to contact Traffic Control Units in Srinagar, Ramban and Jammu to get the status of the road before starting their journey. (ANI)