Major traffic jam on Srinagar-Jammu highway

They said as per advisory of the traffic department only one-way traffic will ply on the highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, till further orders.

Today traffic was to ply from Srinagar to Jammu only, they said, adding that it was decided not to allow any vehicle from opposite direction.

But, sources said some vehicles coming or parked on the road from opposite direction resulted in major traffic jam on the highway. There are hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers stranded in traffic jam between Qazigund to Banihal.

Traffic police officials joined by local police besides driver took several hours to clear the traffic jam, they said adding it took several hours to resume normal traffic activities on the highway.

The highway frequently gets closed due to landslides, shooting stones and some times snowfall. Locals residents between Ramban and Ramsu alleged that ever since the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) started road widening, landslides and shooting stones became a daily routine. Besides movement of vehicles on the national highway, our local traffic also remained badly affected because of frequent landslides.

One-way traffic on the highway was resumed today after remaining closed for the past 24 hours due to landslides and shooting stones.
Frequent closure of the highway often results in price rise of essentials, particularly fresh vegetables in the valley, which is entirely dependent on imports from other states.