Landslides force closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway

Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was halted on Thursday after incessant rainfall triggered landslides, forcing closure of the vital road that links the state to the rest of the country.

Many passengers had a narrow escape after rocks and stones fell from the mountain at many places along the highway.

No injury was, however, reported.

The landslides blocked the national highway at Peera, Gungroo, Panthal and Ramsoo areas of Ramban and Udhampur districts of Jammu region, a senior traffic department officer said.

Nearly 200 vehicles were stranded at various places en-route the highway due to closure of the road.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which maintains the highway, has deployed men and machinery to clear the road for vehicular traffic.

"Work on clearance of landslides on stretches of the national highway has started but rains are making the task difficult and risky," an officer of traffic police department said.

The 300-km long strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway is the only surface link of the landlocked Valley with the outside world and the road passes through extremely treacherous hilly terrain.