Highway reopens after 6 days closure, 1900 trucks on way to Valley

SRINAGAR — The Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the outside world, reopened on Thursday late afternoon after remaining shut for six and a half days, officials said.

Inspector General of Police, Traffic J&K, T. Namgyal (IPS), said that the stranded traffic, mostly trucks carrying supplies, were allowed to move towards Srinagar. “Around 1900 trucks which were stranded at different locations are proceeding towards Valley,” he said.

Actually, a portion of the highway at Dalwas near Nashri Tunnel had sunk, resulting in the suspension of vehicular movement on the strategic road.

Hundreds of trucks laden with essential goods including medical supplies and oil tankers bound for Kashmir were stopped at several places, mainly at Udhampur and Jammu for all these days.

On Tuesday, Chief Secretary, B. V. R. Subrahmanyam, chaired a meeting to review status of restoration and repair works on the highway.

Regional Officer NHAI, J&K, had briefed the Chief Secretary about status of restoration and repair works to clear the damaged stretch of 400 meters. He said that men and machinery were on job to clear the stretch but weather was creating hindrances.

IGP Traffic had apprised the meeting that thousands of trucks were stranded on both the sides of National Highway due to the road blockade.

The Chief Secretary had directed the National Highway authorities to put in more men and machinery so that road clearance work was expedited and the stretch is opened for vehicular traffic at the earliest.