File Photo: Trucks lined-up on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
The Jammu Srinagar National Highway was today closed for vehicular traffic following massive landslides triggered by heavy rainfall which lashed the state in the past 24 hours.
"The Jammu Srinagar National Highway has been closed for the movement of vehicular traffic. Massive landslides have taken place at several places along the highway since last night, which have damaged a large stretch of the road," a traffic police officer said.
He said there have been landslides at multiple places along the over 300 km Jammu Srinagar Highway.
The official said that a large number of vehicles have also been left stranded on the highway following closure of the road.
He said that continuous heavy rainfall was hampering the road opening operation and it cannot be said when the road will be thrown open again.
"Due to the ongoing rainfall, there is still a threat of more landslides. That is why the road opening work is being hampered, we are not sure of the time it will take to reopen the highway," he said.
The official said that the men and machinery of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have been kept on standby and as soon as the weather condition improves, road opening work would begin.
Due to the continuous rainfall, the Batote Doda Kishtwar road has also been closed for the movement of vehicular traffic, said.
We have stopped the movement of fresh vehicles on both the highways and the vehicles will only be allowed to ply when the debris gets completely removed, he added.