By Shah Waseem
Jammu, Dec 11: Fresh snowfall and intermittent rains in Jammu and Kashmir Friday led to closure of strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
Heavy rains and snowfall in upper reaches of the state triggered landslides and shooting stones at many places along the national highway today.
“Shooting stones blocked the road at Kheri Udhampur and heavy motor vehicles have been stopped at Sangoor, Battal, Ballian areas of Udhampur in Jammu province along the highway and have been asked not to move forward”, a senior traffic department official told GMK here.
He said continuous snowfall near the Jawahar tunnel at Banihal has disrupted the traffic along the national highway as accumulated snow has blocked the road.
“To avoid traffic congestion at Banihal light motor vehicles are being stopped at Shaan Palace Ramban and heavy vehicles are being stopped at Chanderkot of Ramban district”, the official said.
At Nagrota toll post, 10 kilometres from here, all vehicles except those going to Udhampur town are stopped and not allowed to move ahead.
On Valley side also all Jammu bound vehicles have been halted, the official added.
The 300-Kilometres long Jammu-Srinagar national highway is the only surface link of landlocked valley with outside world and all essentials of life are routed through this road link.