One-way traffic restored on NH; 1,500 vehicles cleared

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 22

One-way traffic was on Friday restored on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway after remaining suspended for two days following landslides triggered by heavy rain at various places.

The authorities cleared over 1,500 stranded vehicles, however, no fresh vehicle was allowed towards Srinagar from Jammu and vice versa.

A decision on allowing normal traffic on the highway will be taken after reviewing the situation and clearing the debris from all vulnerable points, particularly on the Ramban-Banihal stretch.

“We have started clearing the stranded vehicles, only light motor vehicles, towards Srinagar. Around 1,000 light motor vehicles are stranded at various places on the highway. It will take time to clear all vehicles in view of the lurking danger of shooting stones and boulders at vulnerable points,” said Basharat Hussain, Ramban Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC).

The ADC said the road clearance work was in progress at Panthail, Maroog, Monkey Morh, Battery Chashma, Anokhi Fall, Khuni Nallah and Digdole.

“We hope to restore normal traffic on the highway soon, subject to fair weather,” he said.

The national highway, the lifeline for the Kashmir valley, was closed for traffic on February 20 evening following landslides and heavy snowfall, leaving thousands of passengers and goods trucks stranded.

Clearance on 

• No fresh vehicle was allowed towards Srinagar from Jammu and vice versa on Friday
• A decision on allowing normal traffic on the highway will be taken after reviewing the situation and clearing the debris from all vulnerable points, particularly on the Ramban-Banihal stretch

Landslides block Doda highway

Doda: Fresh landslides on Thursday blocked the 110-km-long Doda-Kishtwar national highway, leaving many passengers stranded. Several vehicles, including buses, were stuck on the highway as heavy rain and snowfall caused landslides at Pakki Dakki, Dansal, Jatheli and Drabshalla on Thursday. The authorities had to stop traffic movement on the highway as a precautionary measure in view of the bad weather. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Traffic, Zoheib Patigaroo said: “Several small vehicles and buses are stuck at Jatheli after fresh landslides and shooting stones. We are not allowing fresh traffic on the highway from Udhampur in view of the bad weather.” Doda Deputy Commissioner Anshul Garg said, “I have asked the agencies concerned to clear the road as early as possible.” OC