Srinagar: The arterial Srinagar-Jammu national highway was shut for the third consecutive day Wednesday due to landslides, even as dry weather prevailed in Kashmir where mercury settled below the freezing point at most places.

The 270-km highway was briefly opened for traffic yesterday after two days but was closed again today due to landslips.

“The Srinagar-Jammu national highway is closed for traffic due to landslides at Anokhfall in Ramban district and Kheri road in Udhampur,” an official of the Traffic Control Room here said.

“There is continues land sliding near Marog also on the highway,” he added.

He said road maintenance agencies are on the job to clear the highway.

“Clearance work is underway. A decision on allowing the movement of traffic on the highway will be taken only after the road is cleared off by the road maintenance agency,” the official said.

“Intending travelers are requested to contact our control rooms in Jammu and Srinagar to know the latest status of the highway,” the official added.

The highway the only all-weather road link connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country – was closed for traffic on Monday as Kashmir experienced the seasons s first major snowfall.

The nearly 300-km long highway is the lifeline for the land-locked Kashmir Valley as all essentials, including food grains, vegetables, edible oils, medicines and petroleum products reach the valley via this road.

Meanwhile, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has issued low danger warning for Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Kulgam, Budgam and Leh districts and Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

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