Jammu-Srinagar Highway Blocked: 300 Vehicles Stranded as Weather Wreaks Havoc

Jammu (The Uttam Hindu) : The Jammu-Srinagar national highway, a vital lifeline connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country, was blocked on Friday due to heavy snowfall, leaving over 300 vehicles stranded. The highway, which passes through the treacherous Pir Panjal mountain range, was closed after snowfall reduced visibility to near zero, making it impossible for vehicles to ply.

"The highway has been closed due to heavy snowfall and slippery road conditions," said a spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police. "We are advising commuters to avoid traveling on the highway until the weather improves." The stranded vehicles, including trucks, buses, and private cars, are stuck at various points along the highway, including the Jawahar Tunnel and the Qazigund area. "We have been stuck here for over 12 hours," said Mohammad Akbar, a truck driver who was traveling from Jammu to Srinagar. "We are running low on food and fuel, and we don't know when the highway will reopen."

The authorities have set up temporary shelters and food camps for the stranded passengers, but many are still facing hardships. "We are doing our best to provide relief to the stranded passengers," said a spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir government. "We are working to clear the highway as soon as possible." The closure of the highway has also affected the supply of essential commodities, including food and medicine, to the Kashmir Valley.

"We are facing a shortage of essential commodities, including food and medicine," said a resident of Srinagar. "We hope the highway is reopened soon." The weather forecast suggests that the snowfall is likely to continue for the next 24 hours, which may further delay the reopening of the highway. In the meantime, the authorities are advising commuters to avoid traveling on the highway and to stay indoors until the weather improves.