The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed for traffic on Wednesday too, the second consecutive day, as landslides triggered by incessant rains blocked the arterial road at over a dozen places in the Ramban district

Road clearance agencies have pressed their men and machinery and endeavors are on to ensure early restoration of the highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, the officials said.

On Tuesday, it was reported that  300 vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the highway following a snowfall in the Jawahar Tunnel area and multiple landslides between Banihal and Chanderkote.

The Jawahar Tunnel – the gateway to Kashmir – experienced snowfall this morning following which traffic was suspended between Banihal and Qazigund townships.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Traffic, Parul Bhardwaj said landslides and the shooting of stones from the hillocks overlooking the highway had blocked the road at 14 places between Nashri and Banihal. "Road clearance operation is in progress at all the affected places and we are hopeful of clearing the debris at most of the places by this evening,"

However, he said a massive landslide spread over 600 meters at Mihard poses a major challenge. A truck is also stranded in the middle and efforts are on to pull it out. He said there has been a slight improvement in the weather this morning but the skies remain overcast.

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