Traffic restored on Kashmir highway, only stranded vehicles allowed to move

Srinagar: Traffic was restored on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, after remaining  suspended on Wednesday for about 12 hours due to landslides, triggered by rain at several places, official sources said.
However, only stranded vehicles were allowed to move, they told UNI this evening.
Yatra from Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu, base camp to Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camp was suspended today due to closure of the highway.
Traffic police official told UNI this morning that rain triggered landslides at several places between Ramban and Ramsu, particularly at Penthal and Digdol last night forcing authorities to suspended vehicular traffic movement.
He said Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), responsible for maintenance of the highway immediately put into service sophisticated machine and men to clear the landslides. However, he said, due to continued shooting stones and landslides, road clearance operation was being hampered.
He said after about 12 hours, traffic was resumed on the highway when the landslides and mudslides were cleared, particularly in Udhampur area.
However, he said, no fresh vehicle was allowed and only vehicles stranded since last night were allowed to move towards their respective destination.
Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) are allowed to ply only one side while Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) from both sides.
However, civilian traffic is allowed to ply only in the afternoon after clearance of Amarnath yatra and security force convoy daily.
Meanwhile, the historic 86-km-long Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region was through for traffic.
The 434-km-long Srinagar- Leh national highway was also through for both way traffic.