Early Times Report Jammu, Feb 8: Jammu-Srinagar national highway, an all-weather road link between Kashmir and rest of the country, remained closed due to heavy snowfall and landslides for the third consecutive day on Friday, triggering protests by the stranded people in Jammu High altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir experienced the fresh spell of snowfall, while the plains were lashed by rains since February 5 night but stopped on Friday Jammu-Srinagar national highway, an all-weather road link between Kashmir and rest of the country, remained closed due to heavy snowfall and landslides for the third consecutive day on Friday, triggering protests by the stranded people in Jammu. Over 1500 vehicles, mostly trucks carrying essential supplies are stranded at various places on highway from Lakhanpur in Kathua district to Banihal belt of Ramban district. "The highway is closed for the third consecutive day to day due to multiple landslides and snowfall. No traffic has been allowed on the highway from Jammu," police officials said. Due to landslides and snowfall, the highway has become fragile for the vehicular traffic and in various other sectors it has become slippery, they said. Apart from snowfall in Jawahar tunnel and Patnitop areas, there were landslides in Ramban district, they said. The men and machines of BRO are working to clear the highway of landslides and shooting stones, occurred at Marog, Battery Chashma, Anokhi fall and Panthal areas, they added. One body was recovered from landslide hit Marog area in Ramban district on the highway and another was injured in the landslide on Batote-Doda road, they said. The highway had remained closed for over 15 days since the beginning of the new year owing to intermittent spells of snowfall and rains. On February 5, the one-way traffic was allowed from Srinagar towards Jammu after five days. High altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir experienced the fresh spell of snowfall, while the plains were lashed by rains since February 5 night but stopped on Friday. |