Jammu:- The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for vehicular traffic for the fourth day on Friday due to landslides and collapse of road sections at many places. However, the inter-regional Mughal Road connecting Poonch district of Jammu region with Shopian district of Kashmir has been reopened for vehicular traffic after a three-day closure.
A traffic police officer said, "The Jammu-Srinagar highway and Sinthan Road are closed for vehicular traffic at many places due to landslides, mudslides and falling rocks." The highway had been closed at many places since August 26 due to blockages at many places following heavy rains, flash floods and landslides, but it was reopened for traffic for a few hours on August 30.
The closure of highways and other inter-regional roads to Kashmir has left over 3,700 vehicles stranded at various places from Kathua to Kashmir. Officials said that the Mughal Road, which was closed for four days, has been reopened for traffic. Light motor vehicles, including passenger and private cars, have been allowed to ply from Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa via Poonch via Mughal Road.
However, they said that heavy motor vehicles carrying essential goods, restricted to only six-wheeler trucks, are being allowed to ply from Poonch to Shopian. Apart from this, other important highways including Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch, which was closed for three days, have also been reopened for traffic.
A traffic police advisor said, “The highway is still closed for traffic from Jakheni (Udhampur) to Srinagar and vice versa as there are roadblocks on the roads between Jakheni and Bali Nallah.