Heavy snowfall forces Mughal road to remain closed
The historic Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, remained closed for the third day, on Monday, due to fresh heavy snowfall.
Meanwhile, the national highway, connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was opened for one-way traffic and vehicles were plying from Srinagar to Jammu.
A traffic police official said that traffic on 86-km-long Mughal road will remain suspended as precautionary measures in view of fresh snowfall at Peer Ki Gali. However, he said the authorities and Mughal Road Development
Authority have started to clear snow so that vehicular movement can commence on the road, which is seen as an alternative to Kashmir highway.
Deputy Commissioner, Shopian, said that snow and avalanche had been cleared on this side of the Pir-Ki-Gali. However, he said traffic will be allowed only when a green signal about snow clearance is reported from other side of the Gali.
The historic road was re-opened early this week after remaining closed for four months due to six to 10 feet of snow at several places. However, the vehicles had to pass through several feet of snow wall on both sides of the road.
He said that despite intermittent rain from last two days, the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was open for traffic.
Hundreds of vehicles, including empty trucks and oil tankers and those carrying passengers, left Srinagar for Jammu on Monday morning. Majority of these vehicles were stopped to allow free movement of Darbar Move, shifting of offices from winter capital, Jammu to summer capital, Srinagar, on April 29 and 30.
“One-way movement of traffic from Jammu towards Srinagar would also be in place on May 6 and 7 to ensure hassle-free movement of vehicles carrying Darbar Move employees and important official records,” he added.
Meanwhile, 434-km-long national highway, linking Ladakh region with Kashmir, besides roads connecting dozens of far-flung and remote areas, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), still remained closed though authorities have started snow clearance operations.
KV Correspondent
