Jammu-bound stranded vehicles to ply on Kashmir highway

Despite rain, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was through for traffic, he said adding only stranded vehicles were allowed to ply. Jammu-bound stranded vehicles, including trucks carrying apple besides empty oil tankers, besides passengers, were allowed to move this morning. However, no vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction since only one-way traffic will continue on the highway till further orders, he said.

Only one-way traffic is allowed on the highway for the past two years in view of road widening and intermittent landslides and shooting stones, particularly between Ramban and Ramsu.

No civilian traffic will be allowed on Sunday due to ban imposed by the authorities to allow free and safe movement of security force convoy. However, the ban has been completely lifted from first Sunday of June.

The ban was imposed twice in a week on Sunday and Wednesday after 44 CRPF personnel were martyred and scores injured in a fidayeen attack in February at Awantipora on the highway. Wednesday ban was lifted early this month and Sunday ban from June 2.

The official said one-way traffic will continue to ply on National Highway, the only road connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir. Today, traffic will be allowed to ply from Ladakh to Kashmir, he said, adding that Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) had to leave Minimarg between 0700 hrs to 1000 hrs. Later, Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) will ply from 1000 hrs to 1300 hrs, he said, adding that no vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction.

Today, traffic will ply from Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region to Shopian in Kashmir, he said, adding that no vehicle will be allowed from opposite direction. LMVs had to leave Behramgalla between 0500 hrs to 0900 hrs and HMVs from 0900 hrs to 1500 hrs.