After demos by stranded passengers, Sgr-Jmu highway opened to clear stranded vehicles

Srinagar: As Srinagar-Jammu highway was Thursday opened to clear vehicles stranded on it after the road remained shut for four days due to landslides caused by heavy rains and snowfall Kashmir-bound passengers stranded in Jammu due to closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway on Thursday staged a protest against the government’s “failure” to restore traffic on the highway and the alleged official apathy.
Stranded for over three days, the passengers staged a massive protest near General Bus Stand against the government to demand restoration of traffic movement on the highway.
The passengers alleged that they have been left to fend for themselves.
“We are stranded here for over three days but no officer from the government or district administration visited us here,” the angry passengers said, adding that few police men visit to give them false assurances about restoration of traffic on the highway.
“Police officials are visiting us after every hour and say traffic will be restored but we are stranded here for four days,” they said.
The passengers are taking shelter under open sky in Bus stand as according to them, the hoteliers and restaurant owners have illegally hiked the rates.
“Hoteliers have hiked the rates of rooms from Rs 500 to 1500 and rate for cup of tea has gone up from Rs 10 to 30,” they said.
The passengers threatened that they will stage protest on Jammu-Kashmir highway if the traffic movement is not restored immediately.
“Road should be opened or government should take other measures to enable us to reach our homes,” they said. The highway remained closed for the fourth straight day Thursday due to landslides triggered by snowfall and rains.
Meanwhile Srinagar-Jammu highway was Thursday opened to clear vehicles stranded on it after the road remained shut for four days due to landslides caused by heavy rains and snowfall. “The highway has been restored for stranded vehicles only. Vehicles from Jammu would not be allowed to proceed towards Srinagar at the moment,” a senior traffic department officer said.
The arterial road, which has been closed since Monday, was briefly re-opened for traffic on Tuesday but had to be closed again due to landslides.