#JAMMU: In Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH44) was today reopened for light motor vehicles (LMVs) after remaining closed for the past two days following multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains in Ramban district.
Heavy motor vehicles are not allowed to ply on the highway for the time being as the road clearance and widening operation is still on.
The light motor vehicles were released on the national highway from both sides around 9.30 AM after debris was cleared at Mehar, Dalwas and Magerkote in Ramban district. The opening of the 270 km national highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, provided relief to hundreds of people, including tourists, who were stranded in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar following its closure.
Multiple landslides, mudslides and shooting stones from the hillocks blocked the highway at nearly a dozen places between Nashri and Banihal tunnels during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, prompting suspension of the traffic. Meanwhile, the historic Mughal road- an alternate national highway linking twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region with Shopian district in Kashmir region remained closed for the sixth consecutive day today owing to snowfall in Peer Ki Gali and adjoining areas.
The traffic on the road usually remains closed during winter months due to snow accumulation. The road was recently cleared for one-way traffic but fresh snowfall between Friday and Monday again closed it.
The authorities said that the work would take at least one more day, that too if the weather remains fair. The Mughal Road was closed for the movement of vehicles five days ago after heavy rainfall followed by snowfall, shooting stones, and landslides.
