Jammu-Srinagar highway closed for fourth day

Jammu: The strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday due to landslides and snowfall.

“No vehicular movement will be allowed on the highway,” a traffic department official said.

Road clearance operations were hampered in Bannihal and Patnitop sectors due to snowfall, while landslides occurred in the Ramban sector.

The strategic over 300-km long highway remained closed during the last three days due to multiple landslides in Ramban district of Jammu region.

All essential supplies are routed into the landlocked Valley through this highway.

Meanwhile, authorities have clarified that no vehicle carrying petroleum products will be allowed to use the Chenani-Nashri tunnel on the highway because of safety precautions, the official said.

The 9.4 km-long tunnel connecting Jammu’s Udhampur and Ramban districts was opened on Friday on a trial basis.

The formal inauguration of the tunnel is scheduled later this month by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

IANS