Srinagar: The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh Highway and historic Mughal road remained closed due to fresh snowfall and slippery road condition while only one-way traffic will ply on the Kashmir highway on Tuesday, a traffic police official said.

There is also a forecast for widespread snowfall during the next 48 hours in Jammu and Kashmir which could affect traffic movement on highway and roads to far-flung and remote areas, he told UNI. He said people undertaking journey on the highway and other remote areas are requested to contact Traffic Control Units (TCUs) before starting their journey.

Traffic on the highway, linking the Ladakh region with Kashmir, remained suspended since Monday afternoon following fresh snowfall and slippery road conditions, a traffic police official said.

He said there is a prediction for more snowfall on the Srinagar-Leh national highway, particularly between Sonamarg in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal and Meenmarg, including Zojila pass. Resumption of traffic on the highway will depend upon the height of the snowfall, he said, adding that traffic will be resumed only if there is less snowfall and there is no threat of avalanches.

He said the 86-km-long Mughal road, connecting Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch, also remained closed due to snowfall.

“We have closed the road for vehicular movement as we do not want to take any chance,” a traffic police official posted at Pir-ki-Gali said. He said there was fresh snowfall on Monday and road had become very slippery forcing authorities to suspend the traffic. He said, “we do not want to risk the lives of passengers and truckers. He said during last week over 1000 passengers and truckers, who got struck on the road due to snowfall were rescued.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of vehicles, including trucks loaded with essentials and oil tankers, left different parts of Jammu region for Kashmir valley this morning. However, no traffic will be allowed from Srinagar to Jammu as only one-way traffic will continue to ply on the highway to avoid traffic jam and accidents