Srinagar-Jammu highway closed yet again due to landslides, pilgrims also stranded

Srinagar: Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying Amarnath pilgrims, are stranded following closure of the national highway, connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, due landslides, triggered by overnight rains. ‘We have suspended traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway at 1100 hrs following fresh landslides at Penthal and other places,’ a traffic police official told UNI. He said all vehicles on both sides of the Penthal have been stopped at safer places to avoid any accident. However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway has already put into service sophisticated machines and men to put through the traffic on the highway. He said vehicles would be allowed to move towards their respective destinations once a green signal is received from the BRO and traffic police officials posted at different places. Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying Amarnath pilgrims, have also been stopped at a safe place on the other side of the Penthal. However, the Srinagar-Leh national highway, the only road linking Ladakh region with Kashmir was through for traffic. The historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region was also open. UNI