National Highway Shut, Flights delayed at Srinagar airport for 3rd straight day
Srinagar- Jammu National Highway remained closed due to incessant rains and snowfall at Patnitop and Jawahar Tunnel while shooting stones at various places between Chanderkote and Ramban sector affected the smooth movement of the traffic.
As per Traffic Police advisory, “In view of heavy rain shooting stones and slippery road conditions, vehicular traffic on both sides of the highway shall remain suspended on Thursday.”
As per reports received, the highway was closed for any type of vehicular movement by the authorities as precautionary measures after the weatherman forecast said there would be “mild to heavy snowfall on higher reaches and rain in plains for next few days”.
Traffic policemen were seen clearing stranded traffic between Ramban and Nashri sector of National Highway on Wednesday.
Due to incessant rains, shooting stones and mudslides occurred at several places between Chanderkote and Ramban sectors. This disrupted vehicular traffic movement Wednesday afternoon but passenger light motor vehicles were diverted through old alignment via the Maitra Karool route, whereas Kashmir-bound load carriers were stopped at Chanderkote and Nashri.
No fresh traffic is being allowed to move beyond traffic check post-Qazigund and Udhampur and due to slippery road conditions.
In view of inclement weather officials at the Traffic control unit, Ramban has asked commuters “ to avoid traveling on Jammu Srinagar National Highway”.
The officials said restoration of traffic on the highway “ was subject to the weather and road conditions.”
Speaking with Kashmir Post, ADGP Traffic Police, T Namgyal confirmed the suspension of vehicular traffic due to inclement weather on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Meanwhile, Traffic Control Unit Srinagar and Jammu issued a fresh travel advisory for Thursday stating that “in view of heavy rain shooting stones and slippery road conditions vehicular traffic on both sides of the highway shall remain suspended on Thursday.”
Meanwhile, Air travelers were left disappointed with early morning flights getting delayed at the Srinagar airport for the third straight day on Thursday due to poor visibility.
“All flights at Srinagar Airport are delayed due to low visibility. The operations will commence on weather improvement, ” a spokesman at the Srinagar airport said.
The weatherman has predicted heavy snowfall in Kashmir over the weekend while maintaining that weather will be “favorable” for flight operations at Srinagar airport which largely remained suspended since Tuesday due to poor visibility caused by rains and snowfall.
While none of the 42 flights could take off on Tuesday, five operated on Wednesday after relative improvement in the weather.
It remains to be seen whether any flights operate at the airport after the latest Met prediction.
