Srinagar, Feb 15: Hundreds of vehicles continued to remain stranded for the second straight day on Wednesday as the Srinagar-Jammu highway continues to remain closed for the traffic due to shooting stones in Ramban while the administration said that the men and machinery has been pressed into service to restore the highway at earliest.

An official said that Jammu-Srinagar highway remained closed for the second consecutive day today due to shooting stones at Mehar-Cafeteria in Ramban district.

He said due to the disruption of traffic on Mehar-Cafeteria stretch, the traffic congestion was also witnessed at different places on the stretch. “Hundreds of Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) are stranded at various places along the highway. The work is on to clear the highway,” the official said, adding that they are expecting the partial restoration of vehicular movement on the highway within the next few hours.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic National Highway, Ramban, Mohita Sharma said that the highway is blocked so far. “Unrelenting shooting stones at Mehar-Cafeteria have halted traffic on both sides. It will resume after clearance,” she said.

Speaking exclusively to KNO, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said that massive efforts are underway to restore the highway. “Machines have been pressed into service and heavy manpower is at work to help in the process of restoration of Srinagar- Jammu highway,” he said.

He said they are monitoring the regulation of traffic on the highway, adding that the highway shall be restored at an earliest.

The Divisional Commissioner further said that there was no shortage of essentials in Kashmir. “Stock including gas cylinders, ration is available in abundance in the Valley and there is no shortage of essentials,” he added—kno