Srinagar-Jammu National Highway open for 2-way traffic

Ramban, Feb 24: Free flow of traffic was disrupted, due to road restoration works and the single-lane road stretch at Dalwass, an area near the Chenani-Nashri tunnel on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Saturday.

Traffic officials said, “The highway remained open for two-way traffic, however, the vehicular movement remained slow due to single-lane carriageways, slush and slippery conditions in the Dalwass area today.”

They said, “On Saturday afternoon, traffic on both sides was suspended for a couple of hours, due to road widening work at Dalwass. Later, the highway was restored for traffic and stranded vehicles were being cleared.”

“Due to slippery conditions and one-way road stretch at Dalwass and Mehar-Cafeteria, vehicles are being cleared on a one-way basis at both places,” they said.

Earlier, on Friday, the highway reopened for two-way traffic after having remained blocked for around four days.

The highway was partially restored on Wednesday afternoon for stranded traffic but after remaining open for a brief period, a fresh landslide blocked the road at Kishtwari Pathar and Hingni-Ramsu.

However, it was again partially restored for stranded traffic on Thursday afternoon.

The highway was closed, following heavy rains on Monday triggering mud and landslides at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria Morh, Hingni, Ramsu, Kishtwari Pathar, Gangroo and other places in Ramban district.

However, after the improvement in the weather, the concerned road maintenance agency NHAI cleared the mud and landslides and the highway was fully restored on Friday. But due to narrow and slippery road conditions at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria and some other places, vehicles were crossing these stretches on a one-way basis at a very slow pace due to which vehicles remained stranded in long queues, especially on both sides of the landslide-affected area of Dalwass.

A manager of a company engaged by NHAI informed that road restoration and widening work at Dalwass was still going on.

He said, “We are trying to clear accumulated mud off the stretch.”

SSP Traffic National Highway Ramban, Rohit Baskotra said that traffic was restored at Dalwass, however, movement of traffic was slow due to mud, slush and slippery road conditions.

“Stranded light vehicles are being cleared,” he said and advised vehicle operators to follow lane discipline.

On the other hand, drivers and commuters complained that they remained stuck for hours on both sides of the Dalwass, Chenani-Nashri tunnel and stretch between Chenani and Udhampur on Saturday.

Meanwhile, a fresh spell of light rain lashed the Nashri-Ramban sector of the highway on Saturday evening.