Efforts on to restore Jammu-Srinagar National Highway: Officials

With improvement in weather conditions, the authorities have stepped up efforts to restore the strategically important Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which has remained closed for vehicular traffic since Thursday due to multiple landslides along the Banihal-Ramban stretch, officials said.

"Fresh landslides occurred overnight at several places including Anokhi fall, Digdole and Panthiyal. Road clearance operation is going on in full swing to ensure early restoration of traffic on the highway," they added.

The 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir to the rest of the country, was closed for traffic on Thursday following heavy snowfall and rains which triggered multiple landslides blocking the road at various places on the Banihal-Ramban stretch, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.

The official said the snow clearance operation at Jawahar Tunnel, the gateway to Kashmir, was completed late Friday evening, following which over 100 stranded Kashmir-bound tankers carrying petroleum products were allowed to proceed towards their destination.

"The blockade due to landslides at various places including Nachlana, Gangroo, Seri and Battery Cheshma were also cleared, while efforts are on to clear the blockade at other paces," the official said, the road is likely to be made ready for traffic by late afternoon."