Fresh landslides close Jammu-Srinagar National Highway again

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Wednesday was closed again after landslides hit the road.

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded at Ramban.

Traffic department officials said the 300 km-long highway was cleared of at several places between Banihal and Ramban, much to the relief of commuters.

According to reports, landslides and shooting stones from hillocks, triggered by heavy rains, had blocked the highway at Panthyal, Rathanwas, Gangroo and Hingini forcing suspension of the traffic on the arterial road this morning.

The Border Roads Organisation ordered its men and machines into service to clear the road after several hours of hard work, facilitating one-way traffic.

Most parts of Jammu and Kashmir including Srinagar and Jammu cities were lashed by heavy rains, while some parts in the upper reaches experienced fresh snowfall since yesterday, resulting in considerable drop in the temperature.

The weather is expected to improve on April 9.