Snowfall shuts Srinagar-Jammu highway, passengers stranded

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The vital Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was on Monday closed for traffic after heavy snowfall along the arterial route, leaving 250 passengers and 300 vehicles stranded.

A traffic department official in Srinagar said the 294-km long highway was closed after heavy snowfall hit the region since late last night.

He said more than one-and-half feet of snow had accumulated near the vital Jawahar Tunnel, nine inches of snow in Qazigund town and seven inches of snow at Patnitop point.

In Jammu, officials said that over 300 vehicles were stranded due to the closure of the highway. Heavy rains are also lashing Ramban and Kud-Chenani belt.

"We have cleared the stretch upto Patnitop area and have allowed traffic to move one-way and but the rest of the stretch is still closed," SP, Ramban, Anil Magotra said.

Due to the highway's closure, over 250 passengers hailing from the Valley are stranded at the Jammu bus stand.

The highway is a vital road link which connects the Valley with the rest of the country and acts as a supply channel for all essential commodities going to the region.