KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

The Srinagar-Leh highway, linking the Ladakh region with the Kashmir valley remained closed for the fifth day today due to snowfall and slippery road conditions.

A traffic police official said that 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway remained closed since November 4 when one to two feet of snowfall at Sonamarg, Zojila, Meenmarg and Zero point.

He said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, has already pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to put through the highway, lifeline to Ladakh region.

He said because of sub-zero temperature during the night, the road has become very slippery as snow was frozen. However, if the weather improves and frozen surface melts, traffic could be restored later in the day.

Meanwhile, official source said hundreds of vehicles, mostly trucks and carrying passengers are stranded on both sides of the Zojila pass. The centre and state governments have already agreed to construct a tunnel at the pass to make it an all-weather road.

There are large number of vehicles, mostly empty trucks and those carrying passengers stranded at Drass and other places on the other side of Zojila. Similarly, vehicles are also stranded at Srinagar and Sonamarg on this side of the Zojila.          In the past the highway was closed for six winter months from November 1 every year. However, for the past few years, the highway remained through till weather permits.

Meanwhile, the winter stocking at different parts of the Ladakh region, which remained cut off for six winter months due to heavy snowfall, has been completed.

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