Srinagar-Leh highway closes, Kashmir highway and mughal roads open for traffic

Srinagar: Traffic on 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway, linking Ladakh region with Kashmir valley, was restored on Friday after remaining suspended for a day due to fresh snowfall and slippery road conditions.
Meanwhile, thousands of heavy vehicles, including those carrying essentials, left Jammu for Kashmir valley Friday morning while light vehicles will continue to ply from both sides.
The historic 86-km-long Mughal road was also through for traffic. Traffic on Srinagar-Leh national highway was restored on the highway after remaining closed due to slippery road conditions and snowfall, a traffic police official said.
However, traffic on the highway was restored for about half-an-hour yesterday afternoon after the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, put into service sophisticated machines and men and cleared the snow. But due to slippery road condition traffic was again suspended.
“Today, traffic will ply from Srinagar to Leh and no vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction”, he said. Meanwhile, according to the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Sonamarg-Gumri road shall remain closed for vehicular traffic in view of the snowfall in higher reaches and slippery road condition on either side of Zojila Pass on Srinagar-Leh highway.
The Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road (Zojila Pass), which connects Kashmir valley with the Ladakh region, will remain closed from December 10, 2017 for all types of vehicles until further notice.
The Met department has issued a warning for moderate to heavy rain and snowfall from December 11 to 15 in Jammu and Kashmir which could affect surface and air traffic during the period. Meanwhile, the traffic official said light vehicles will ply from both sides on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
However, heavy vehicles will continue to ply from one side only to avoid any traffic jam or accident on the highway. “Today, heavy vehicles will ply from Jammu to Srinagar”, he said, adding that no heavy vehicles, including those of security forces, will be allowed to ply from opposite direction.