NH-1 still closed due to accumulation of heavy snow on the road

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Jan 17: With several avalanches hitting the 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Ramban and Banihal, traffic remained suspend for third day, with nearly 2000 vehicles stranded along the highway.


"There were avalanches in various places in Ramban district. But there are no reports of any casualty," Superintendent of Police (SP) Ramban Anil Magotra said.


“Due to the closure of the highway about 2055 vehicle were stranded from Jawahar Tunnel from district Samba and around 1300 passengers from Srinagar are stranded at Jammu bus stand” said officials.


Sources said that the as the snowfall stopped, life across the valley started slowly back to the normal with markets opening after two days.


The closed highway has resulted in the shortage of essential commodities like LPG cooking gas, kerosene, vegetables, chicken and mutton.


Moreover the prices of these items also increased since the road was closed from the last two days.


When contacted Inspector General Traffic, Jammu, Himmant Kumar Lohia said that the department is on work to clear the blocked highway from the morning at different part of the state.


He added that if the weather remains clear the highway hopefully be clear till evening and the traffic will start running. Meanwhile hoteliers of Jammu on their part have offered 20 to 25 per cent discount for the stranded passengers in hotels and lodges across the Jammu city.


Officials said that all the required steps would be taken for the lodging of the passengers till the road reopens. He advised them not to proceed to their destinations unless clearance by the competent authority managing the roads is sought.


Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Pawan Kotwal said that BRO has started clearance work at several places along the highway and their first priority is to clear the supply trucks particularly at Dhar Road in Udhampur and Ramban.


“There are 150-200 trucks and if the road is fully cleared, we will first allow these vehicles to proceed towards valley. But only if there is no more heavy snowfall or rainfall, which makes the road slippery”, said Kotwal.


Meanwhile administration has asked the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters to remain on standby, in case interior roads are not cleared in Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Doda and upper reaches of Reasi.