Srinagar, Jan 08
The Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, remained closed for the second day on Wednesday due to fresh landslides at several places. Meanwhile, over 40 vehicles carrying passengers, which were stranded in Jawahar tunnel, were rescued and taken to Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on the highway. However, over 500 passengers besides truckers had to spent chilly night in their vehicles while about 5000 others were provided shelter in schools and railway sheds at Banihal. There was no chance of resuming traffic this winter on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway, the only road connecting Union Territory (UT) Ladakh with Kashmir valley, which remained closed for the past 29 days on Wednesday due to accumulation of over five feet snow and slippery condition. After Ladakh become UT it was decided to keep the Zojila pass, the most trouble spot on Srinagar-Leh highway open throughout the year. People at Kargil, Drass and other remote areas in the Ladakh region alleged that authorities failed to stock enough stock for winter. However, authorities denied the allegations and said enough stock of all essentials, including rice, atta, sugar, oil, diesel and LPG, was available. The historic 86-km-long Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region and Anantnag-Kishtwar road also remained closed for the past 29 days. There is no possibility of reopening of the road before April-May. Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Wednesday following fresh landslides, a traffic police official said this morning. Though there was no fresh snowfall and rain since last evening, but there were fresh landslides and shooting stones at Digdol, Mompassi and Monkey modde, he said adding the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has already pressed into service sophisticated machines to clear the landslides and snow. However, continued shooting stones was hampering the clearance operation, he said. He said once highway is put through, only stranded vehicles will be allowed to move towards their respective destinations. Meanwhile, over 40 vehicles, carrying passengers, got struck in the Jawahar tunnel yesterday. However, the authorities launched rescue operation and all the stranded vehicles were taken to Qazigund, official sources said. They said about 5,000 passengers, including women and children besides elderly persons, were accommodated in schools and other government accommodation besides in Railway sheds and halls at Banihal. However, over 500 passengers had to spent the night in their vehicles. Truckers alleged that they are facing acute shortage of water, wash room and other essentials commodities. Frequent closure of the highway due to daily landslides and shooting stones, particularly between Ramban and Ramsu since the NHAI started road widening, has resulted in price rise of essentials, particularly fresh vegetables.
