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DESPITE SNOW SGR-JMU HIGHWAY THROUGH, MUGHAL ROAD CLOSED

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 11/24/2020 11:39:16 AM

Srinagar, Nov 23 Despite rain and snow disrupting traffic for some time, the 270-km-long Srinagar- Jammu highway was through, while historic 86-km-long Mughal road was closed on Monday, a traffic police official said. There is a forecast for rain and snow in Jammu and Kashmir during the 72 hours which could affect surface and air traffic. He said there were shooting stones, triggered by rain, at Cafeteria mode disrupting normal traffic movement on the Srinagar- Jammu national highway this morning. However, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, immediately put into service sophisticated machines and men and cleared the road. Later, the traffic was resumed on the highway, the only road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, he said. It was snowing at Jawahar tunnel, Banihal, Shaintan Nallah and Zig , he said, adding that traffic was,so far normally, plying normally. However, a senior traffic officer said traffic on the highway will be suspended in case there is heavy snowfall and road becomes slippery. Traffic official said Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) were to ply today from Jammu to Srinagar. However, vehicles had to leave Nagrota Jammu between 0500 hrs to 1100 hrs and Jakheni Udhampur between 0600 hrs to 1200 hrs. No vehicle will be allowed after the cut of timing. He said only stranded Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) at Ramban and Banihal will be allowed to move towards Jammu. However, Traffic Control Unit (TCU) at Ramban will coordinate for release of Kashmir bound oil tankers and fresh perishable carriers from opposite direction. The historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region has been closed for traffic due to fresh snowfall. Traffic on the road was recently restored after remaining suspended for four days due to snowfall. ”We closed the road, seen as alternative to Srinagar- Jammu highway, because of fresh snowfall since early this morning”, he said. There was heavy snowfall at Dubjan, he said, adding that snowfall was also recorded at Pir-ki-Gali, Herpora and other areas on the road. The road was being used to transport fresh fruit from Kashmir valley to different mandis, including Jammu after frequent closure of the highway this summer. Traffic will be resumed only after weather improves and a green signal is received from traffic police civil administration official posted at different places on the road, which remained closed for about six winter months due to heavy snowfall.