Day 2: Traffic remains disrupted on Sgr-Jmu NH

Ramban, Mar 3: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained blocked for the second consecutive day as fresh landslides at Maroog and Nachlana hampered road restoration work in Ramban district on Sunday.

However, late Sunday evening, it was partially restored for stranded traffic and some passenger vehicles were allowed to proceed to their destinations in Srinagar and Jammu. Officials said, “National Highway 44 remained closed for the second consecutive day in Ramban district as fresh landslides blocked the road at Maroog and Nachlana on Sunday.”

They said after a slight improvement in the weather during the day, the concerned road maintenance agency NHAI pressed its men and machinery at several locations like Dalwass, Mehar, Cafeteria, Maroog, Seri, Nachlana, Panthyal and Hingni-Ramsu simultaneously along the route to clear the highway.

They said after day-long road restoration works, a single-lane road was prepared at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria, Seri, Maroog, Panthyal, Hingni, Nachlana, Kishtwari Pathar. “Some stranded vehicles were cleared late Sunday evening. However, it will take time to complete the road clearance work,” they said.

Officials said that the only road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country was blocked due to multiple mudslides and shooting stones on Saturday.

“Fresh landslides at Maroog and Nachlana along the Srinagar Jammu National Highway have hampered restoration work,” traffic authorities said.

They said that the concerned agencies of NHAI were trying hard to restore the National Highway at the earliest. Hundreds of vehicles, carrying essential commodities like oil, gas and ration, were stranded at different locations in Jammu, Udhampur, and other places between Srinagar and Jammu.

However, some private Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) on the way to Srinagar, which were stopped at Dalwass, Chanderkote and Ramban, were given safe passage by the police after a single-lane road was prepared at Dalwass and few other places.

Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police, National Highway, Rohit Baskotra late Sunday evening, said, “Srinagar Jammu National Highway is still blocked at several places and efforts are on to make it traffic-worthy.”

Meanwhile, the traffic department issued an advisory for Monday stating that subject to fair weather and good road conditions, only one-way traffic for Kashmir would be allowed on Srinagar Jammu National Highway.”

They said, “Because of the single lane and poor surface of the road at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria, Panthyal, Nachlana, Gangroo, Hingni, Kishtwari Pather etc., management has decided that tomorrow only one-way traffic shall be allowed from Jammu to Srinagar.”