Ramban/ Ganderbal/ Rajouri, Oct 7: The traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was disrupted for several hours on Tuesday following multiple landslides, mudslides, and waterlogging triggered by overnight rains between Udhampur and Banihal.
Traffic authorities said that the highway was blocked due to landslides, shooting stones, and accumulation of slush at several key locations, including Tharad, Nashri, Peeda, Mehad, Seri, Maroog, and Panthyal.
The disruption brought the movement of both the Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles to a standstill.
Following an improvement in weather conditions on Tuesday afternoon, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) deployed men and machinery to clear the debris and restore traffic flow.
By late afternoon, one-way traffic for LMVs towards Kashmir was allowed to resume. Subsequently, heavy vehicles, including trucks carrying apple consignments from Qazigund in Kashmir, were permitted to proceed towards Jammu from 5 pm.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and have advised drivers to follow traffic advisories and exercise caution.
The traffic authorities advised commuters and vehicle operators not to undertake journeys on the highway against the advisory to prevent possible congestion from Udhampur to Banihal on Wednesday morning.
They advised commuters and vehicle operators to check the latest status of the highway before undertaking journeys from Traffic Control Units of Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur, and Ramban besides on social media handles of the Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police.
Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police, National Highway, Ramban, Raja Adil Hamid said road restoration work and traffic regulation were simultaneously going on at Nashri.
Meanwhile, Zojila Pass along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway received about 3 to 4 inches of snow on Tuesday, resulting in the temporary closure of the road.
Officials said that due to the accumulation of the snow and slippery road conditions, the highway was temporarily closed for traffic.
After the improvement in weather, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) launched snow clearance operations at the Zojila Pass.
Officials said that the personnel from the BRO’s Project Beacon began clearing accumulated snow early Tuesday morning to ensure the highway remains open for essential traffic.
The operation was carried out amid freezing temperatures and reduced visibility, posing challenges for the engineering teams working at altitudes above 11,500 feet.
“The snow clearance work was initiated immediately after the weather showed slight improvement. Our teams are on the ground with heavy machinery to ensure that connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh is restored at the earliest,” BRO officials said.
Authorities advised travellers to avoid unnecessary movement along the highway until the snow clearance operation is fully completed and the road is declared safe for passage.
Vehicular movement on the Mughal Road also came to a halt on Tuesday morning following fresh snowfall in the region.
The unexpected weather conditions led to traffic being suspended, with several vehicles stranded on both sides of the route.
Over the past 24 hours, snowfall was reported in Pir Ki Gali and adjoining higher reaches of Rajouri and Poonch districts.
As a result, the Mughal Road, which serves as a key link between the Pir Panjal region and Kashmir, became impassable in the morning hours.
The BRO swiftly launched a snow clearance operation to restore traffic movement.
The BRO officials said that the operation, which continued throughout the day, was completed by Tuesday evening, clearing more than 200 stranded vehicles.
Authorities confirmed that routine vehicular traffic would be allowed on the Mughal Road from Wednesday morning, subject to favourable weather conditions.
This spell of early-season snowfall has also been reported from several other upper reaches of Rajouri and Poonch, bringing down temperatures and marking an early onset of winter in the region.
Deputy SP Traffic, Shiv Kumar, said that only stranded vehicles were being cleared, while routine movement of vehicles would be allowed on Wednesday.
