M A I N   N E W S

J-K flood fury 320 vehicles proceed towards Valley
Jammu-Srinagar highway reopens after 12 days
R K Kichlu
Tribune News Service

One-way movement Vehicles with relief and essential commodities will be allowed to ply from Jammu to Srinagar on the first two days Thereafter, only passenger vehicles will ply from Srinagar to Jammu on September 18 Then for the next two days the traffic would be allowed from Jammu to Srinagar The traffic on the highway was suspended on September 4 following massive landslides

Ramsu (Ramban), September 16
After remaining closed for 12 days, the 300-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway, lifeline to the Kashmir Valley, was reopened for traffic today. Highway officials said 320 vehicles, mostly trucks stranded between Udhampur and Banihal, were allowed to proceed towards Srinagar after the passage was thrown open for vehicular movement around 7.30 am.

Senior officials of the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF), the traffic police and district administration met in the morning and decided that the stranded vehicles should first be allowed the highway passage.

The road was made traffic worthy on Sunday evening.

SSP Traffic, National Highway, Mohd Haseeb Mughal, said after clearing all the stranded vehicles on priority by afternoon, the vehicles, except big trucks or trolleys and those carrying non-essential commodities, were allowed towards Srinagar.

A government spokesperson said Mughal Road, an alternate road link connecting the Kashmir Valley with twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, was also thrown open for all types of traffic. One-way traffic also resumed on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. Rail service was resumed from Budgam to Baramullah and steps were being taken to open up the track up to Banihal.

The traffic on the highway was suspended on September 4 following massive landslides at three places, viz 172.645 km, 174.835 km and 174.495 km from Jammu. Road stretches at these places had sunk due to incessant rains.

Officer Commanding, 52-RCC,GREF, SK Meena, said two flood lights, and other equipment were buried under the landslide debris while the GREF team members engaged in road opening had a narrow escape on September 13. An official spokesperson said, “Keeping in view the prevailing situation in the valley one-way traffic would be allowed on the highway. Only vehicles with relief and essential commodities would be allowed to ply from Jammu to Srinagar on first two days i.e September 16 and 17”.

Thereafter, only passenger vehicles from Srinagar to Jammu would ply on September 18.

Then for the next two days (September 19 to 20) the traffic would be allowed from Jammu to Srinagar.

No extra heavy multi-axial vehicles, trailers and trucks carrying non-essential commodities would ply on the national highway till the situation became normal.

However, light motor vehicles would be allowed to ply from Jammu to Srinagar through Kishtwar-Sinthantop road without any restriction during this period.