Despite snow prediction, one-way traffic continues on Kashmir highway

Srinagar: Despite weather warning which could affect surface and air traffic, Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was through for one-way traffic on Sunday.
However, Leh-Srinagar national highway, connecting Ladakh region with the valley, and historic Mughal road remained closed for traffic from last about two months due to accumulation of several feet of snow.
“Hundreds of vehicle, including those carrying passengers, left different parts of Kashmir valley for Jammu on the national highway early on Sunday morning,” a traffic official told UNI.
He said both Light Motor Vehicles and Heavy Motor Vehicles will be allowed to ply on the highway with some restrictions. “LMVs will have to cross Pantha Chowk between 0700 hrs to 1130 hrs,” he said.
He said the LMVs will have to cross Levdora between 0830 hrs to 1300 hrs. “No traffic will be allowed after the cutoff time from these checkpoints,” he said, adding vehicles will not be allowed from the opposite direction.
A Met department spokesperson said that moderate to heavy snow would occur at many places in the valley during the next four days.
Meanwhile, the national highway, the only road linking the Ladakh region with Kashmir remained closed for the past about two months due to accumulation of snow, particularly between Sonamarg in central Kashmir and Meenmarg in Ladakh region. However, vehicles were operating on the highway between Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, border town of Kargil and Leh.
The 86-km-long historic Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, also remained closed for the past about two months due to accumulation of snow. These roads are likely to reopen in March and April.