Srinagar: Traffic was on Sunday suspended on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, due to landslide triggered by incessant rain during the last 24 hours.

Due to the closure of Kashmir highway, Amarnath yatra has been suspended from Jammu.

However, fresh traffic was allowed to ply on 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway, the only road linking Ladakh region with Kashmir valley, after remaining closed for three days due to landslides triggered by rain.

A traffic police official told UNI that the Kashmir highway was closed since early this morning for all types of vehicular traffic due to landslide at Digdol in Ramban district, triggered by incessant rain.

However, the Border Road Organisation (BRO), responsible for maintenance of the highway, immediately pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to clear the landslide and put through the traffic. ‘As the highway has been closed, Amarnath pilgrims have also been stopped in Jammu from moving toward Kashmir,’ he added.

He said on Saturday stranded vehicles on Srinagar-Leh highway were cleared after the road was put through for traffic following clearance of landslides at various places. ‘A huge portion of a hill had collapsed and blocked the road in Zojila pass area,’ he said, adding the machines and men were pressed into service and the highway was put through. The highway was closed on Thursday.

The Union Government has already sanctioned tunnel at Zojila to make it all weather road which remained closed during winter months due to accumulation of heavy snow.

UNI ABS SV 1134