Ganderbal,Dec31:The 434-Km strategic Srinagar-Leh National highway, connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir, has been officially closed from Friday for winter months to avoid any accident following slippery road conditions due to below freezing temperature.
“We have closed the highway from today as per orders by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir,” traffic police sources said.
They said the road has become very slippery particularly at Zojila, Meenmarg, Zero-Point, India Gate and other places, where the mercury remained below minus during the night and sub zero during the day. The mercury would witness further drop during the coming winter days.
Meanwhile Metrological department has predicted Moderate to heavy snowfall from Monday.
Authorities across the Kashmir valley have geared up all resources to meet any challenge following prediction of moderate to heavy rain and snow in the UT. The Srinagar-Leh National highway has been closed for winter months, DSP Traffic Rural Ganderbal Faheem Ali told News Agency
Meanwhile Divisional Commissioner P.K.Pole(IAS) confirmed to News Agency that Srinagar-Leh National Highway has been closed for traffic for winter months due to slippery road conditions.
”We have withdrawn all our personnel deployed on the highway between Sonamarg and Drass, on other side of the Zojila pass to regulate traffic,” he said.
Pertinently Beacon on the intervening night of 31 December rescued 300 Passengers and 106 Vehicles who were stuck at Zojila Pass due to the slippery road conditions.
The Centre has also started construction of a tunnel at Zojila pass to make it all weather road.
The official said that traffic police and local administration on both sides of the Zojila had made all efforts to clear vehicles to their respective destinations before closing it officially from today. The highway remains closed between Sonamarg to Meenmarg Drass because of ten to 15 feet of snowfall during winter.
Meanwhile The strategic highway, remains closed from about four to five months every year.