Srinagar-Jammu highway closed for traffic after fresh landslides

The strategic Srinagar-Jammu highway was closed for traffic on Thursday following a major landslide in Ramban district, officials said.

A landslide hit the highway at Moom Passi area in Ramsoo stretch during wee hours today, said an official, adding that hundreds of vehicles have been left stranded in the highway.

He said efforts are on to restore the 270-km highway – the only all weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country. “The clearance of the road will take some time,” he said.

The frequent closure of the highway over the past one month has led to shortage of fuel and other essential commodities in the valley.

However,the prevailing shortage of essential supplies particularly Petrol, Diesel, LPG and Kerosene Oil ended with the arrival of sufficient stocks after clearance of road stretched in Ramban where massive landslides had disrupted the movement of traffic, government said on Wednesday. A total of  274 tankers and trucks crossed Jawahar Tunnel on Wednesday at around 6pm which included 81 LPG trucks, 67 petrol loaded tankers, 91 diesel tankers, and 35 Kerosene oil tankers while as more than 300 tankers were in transit and are expected to reach Kashmir valley shortly a govt.official said yesterday.Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmed Khan reviewed the availability of stocks and distribution process with Deputy Commissioners, Director FCS&CA and other senior officers in a meeting on Wednesday .He had said that sufficient stocks have been received and further additional supply is in transit.