Srinagar, Feb 10: The Kashmir valley was cut off from the rest of the country today, following the closure of 300-km long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway due to landslides and snowfall. The highway, only road link of the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was closed last evening around 1730 hours following heavy snowfall and landslides, a traffic police official said.

As the road became slippery because of snowfall between Qazigund-Banihal and landslides in Ramban area, no vehicle was allowed from Srinagar or Jammu today, he added.

However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, have pressed its men and sophisticated machines into services to clear the highway.
A report said hundreds of vehicles, including passenger buses and trucks loaded with essential commodities were stranded on the highway.

It has been decided to allow the stranded vehicles to move towards their respective destinations once the road is cleared, officials said.

They said vehicles from Jammu and Srinagar will be allowed only after clearance from the traffic officials on the highway.

Bureau Report