Sgr-Jmu NH open for 2-way traffic

Ramban, Nov 16: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only all-weather surface link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, remained open for two-way traffic of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles on Saturday.

However, the Kishtwar-Sinthan Top-Anantnag National Highway was blocked due to inclement weather and the accumulation of light snow.

Traffic authorities said that the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open although the traffic movement was slow due to the breakdown of a few heavy vehicles besides the single-lane road stretches at Dalwass and Mehar Cafeteria and between Maroog and Kishtwari Pathar area falling between Nahsri and Banihal sectors of the highway.

According to an advisory issued by the Sub Divisional Magistrate Chatroo, given fresh light snowfall at Sinthan Top and low visibility, the traffic on Kishtwar-Sinthan Top-Anantnag National Highway remained suspended on Saturday.

The advisory said that no vehicle would be allowed to proceed in either direction till further notice.

Meanwhile, the Traffic Department issued a fresh advisory for Sunday stating that subject to fair weather and good road conditions, LMVs and heavy vehicles would be allowed to ply on either side of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

It said that the passenger LMV operators should not undertake journeys on the highway due to apprehension of shooting stones between Ramban and Banihal.

The Traffic Department advised LMV operators to prefer journeys on the highway only during the daytime.

It said that only LMVs would be allowed to ply on both sides of the Kishtwar-Sinthan Top-Anantnag, National Highway from Anantnag to Kishtwar and vice versa.

The Traffic Department said that these vehicles would be allowed to move from Duksum and Chingam to Chatroo between 9 am and 3 pm. It said that no vehicle would be allowed to ply after or before cut-off timings, the advisory issued by the traffic department reads.