Closed roads

The Srinagar-Leh National Highway and Bandipora - Gurez roads have been again closed after the fresh snowfall. Like Mughal Road, these two roads remain usually closed for the winter months.

However, following the completion of snow clearance after the first major snowfall of this season some weeks back, Srinagar-Leh and Bandipora-Gurez were reopened. The delighted travellers expressed happiness over the early reopening of the two roads.

It had not happened in the past that the two roads were reopened in February. This year Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh witnessed a prolonged dry spell during winter months. The dry spell came to an end on the last day of January.

Since the snowfall was not that heavy and snow clearance operation was also completed speedily the Srinagar-Leh highway and Bandipora -Gurez road were thrown open again for vehicular traffic movement. But now, due to fresh snowfall, the two roads are blocked again. Once the snowfall is over the authorities will decide whether the roads can be reopened soon or not.

Their decision will depend upon the intensity of the snowfall and the duration of the snow clearance work. It is important to keep the roads open but safety of travellers on such roads during winter is equally important. No decision should be taken in haste which can put the lives of those traveling in danger.

The concerned authorities must be fully aware of this fact and they should take appropriate decision, taking the safety of travellers into consideration.

A number of mishaps have occurred on Srinagar-Leh highway in past, whether due to snow avalanche or landslides after the snowfall. People have even lost their lives in such incidents.

Even these incidents do keep on occurring on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and Mughal Road also. Some mishaps are unavoidable and some are avoidable. The avoidable must be avoided.

Such mishaps can be prevented with proper traffic management and proper monitoring at the required times. So reopening the closed roads after snowfall needs caution and it should be done for the safety of travellers.