SRINAGAR: Traffic remained suspended on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) on Friday as landslides and continuous shooting stones at several vulnerable locations prevented the reopening of the Valley’s only all-weather road link with the rest of the country.
Traffic officials said debris clearance and restoration work was in progress at affected stretches, including Trishul Mode in Ramban district, but persistent adverse weather and recurring rockfall continued to hamper operations and made vehicular movement unsafe.
The authorities have advised commuters and transporters to avoid travelling on the highway until fresh traffic advisories are issued, stating that road conditions remain hazardous.
The prolonged closure has disrupted the movement of passenger vehicles as well as the transportation of essential supplies between the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region.
Meanwhile, Northern Railway has been operating special train services between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to facilitate the movement of passengers stranded due to the highway closure.
Officials said restoration work was continuing on a war footing and that traffic would be allowed only after the highway is declared safe for vehicular movement.
