Jammu-Srinagar highway closed for fourth day

Jammu, April 8 (IANS) The strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed on Saturday for the fourth consecutive day due to fresh landslides in Ramban district of Jammu region.

"Due to fresh landslides at some places and shooting stones triggered by rain, it has been decided that no traffic will be allowed to move on the highway today (Sunday)," traffic department officials said here.

The highway serves as the lifeline of supplies to the landlocked Kashmir Valley.

The 10.89 km long Nashri-Chenani tunnel inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 2 has by-passed the snowy stretch of Batote-Patnitop-Kud reducing the distance by 31 km on the highway.

Yet the 38 km long stretch between Ramban and Bannihal town remains the most vulnerable and landslide prone part of the highway.