Srinagar-Leh Highway reopened for traffic

The Srinagar-Leh National Highway connecting Ladakh with Kashmir Valley was reopened for traffic on Tuesday after remaining closed for seven days due to heavy rains, boosting connectivity to the flood-hit region awaiting crucial supplies.

However, the 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for the sixth day on Tuesday.

"Road connectivity of the flood affected Kashmir Valley has been restored from Leh region due to concerted efforts of Indian Army engineers and the Border Roads Organisation", Army officials said.

The 434-km-long Highway was closed following heavy rains and landslides on September 3.

The connectivity will give a major boost to ongoing relief operations being undertaken by the Army in the Kashmir Valley, they said.

"The Army is now mobilising the existing stocks in Leh to provide essential supplies to Kashmir Valley", they said.

The urgent requirement of food, water and medicines will be moved from the Army holdings in Ladakh while additional stocks are being inducted via Manali to provide relief to the people in the Kashmir Valley, they said.

The BRO has, meanwhile, intensified efforts to clear the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which has remained close due to landslides and sinking of road at various places.

Traffic was suspended on the highway due to landslides, washing of road patches, and flooding at various places on September 4.

Hundreds of passenger and commercial vehicles were stranded on the highway at various places in Banihal, Ramban, Batote, Kud, Patnitop, Chenani, Udhampur and Jammu due to closure of the road.

The BRO pressed in service its men and machines as the weather started to become clear and launched a massive clearance and repair operation to reopen the highway for traffic, police said.

Authorities were focusing on reopening of the highway so that more rescue material could reach Kashmir by road.

However, some inter-district roads, which were closed due to landslides and flash-floods, were reopened for traffic.

Roads which have been reopened include the Jammu-Batote-Doda-Kishtwar and Jammu-Rajouri roads.

For full coverage on the flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir, click here