Jammu-Srinagar highway shut for fourth consecutive day

Jammu, March 5 (IANS) The strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday.

"Jammu-Srinagar highway remained closed today also due to multiple landslides triggered by incessant rain and snowfall on the road," a senior police officer told IANS in winter capital Jammu on Thursday.

"Those intending to undertake the journey must do so only after contacting the traffic department control rooms in Srinagar and Jammu."

The over 300-kilometre long highway is the only surface connection between the landlocked valley and the rest of the country.

All supplies of essentials of life are routed to the valley through this road.

Due to heavy snowfall and rain, the hilly highway has remained closed for all sorts of vehicular traffic for the last four days.

Air traffic between the valley and the outside world also remained closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Flight operations to the valley were resumed on Wednesday.

The border roads organisation (BRO) on Thursday started controlled blasting of heavy debris of landslides at many parts of the highway to clear it for traffic.