J&K Highway closed for 2nd day due to heavy rain, snowfall

In the wake of heavy rain and snowfall, the 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the only surface link between Kashmir and rest of the country, remained closed for vehicular traffic for the second consecutive day on Friday.

Heavy rain and snowfall across Jammu and Kashmir during past few days had triggered landslides and shooting stones at various places on the highway, and traffic has been stopped from both the sides of the highway since yesterday afternoon, police officials said.

No fresh traffic was allowed from both Jammu and Srinagar side today, they said, adding, rains and snowfall triggered landslides and slippery conditions on roads at various places on the highway.

“Rain and snowfall is going on at various places on the Jammu Srinagar highway, there are reports of shooting stones and landslides at various locations, so the highway remains closed for the second day today,” an official said.

He said heavy snow-clearing machinery has been deployed to clear the snow from the highway.

“The highway can only be opened for the movement of vehicular traffic once it stops snowing,” he said.

Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road was also closed for the traffic due to landslides at various places on the road, they said.