Ramban, May 29: Despite intermittent showers, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open for two-way traffic of light motor vehicles and only one-way travel of heavy trucks towards Jammu on Monday.
However, there was traffic congestion on the route that runs between Ramban and Banihal on Monday morning.
According to traffic authorities, a new severe rainstorm drenched Udhampur and Banihal sectors in the afternoon, although cars continued to travel on the route as normal.
According to traffic officials, the Jammu-Srinagar NH-44 was closed for three hours and 28 minutes over the previous 24 hours up to 5 p.m. Monday owing to the shutdown of the Chenani-Nashri tunnel. They also said that traffic remained delayed at several points between the Nashri and Banihal tunnels owing to the breakdown of seven big trucks and the on-foot transit of nomads and their animals.
Hundreds of private cars, passenger light and medium vehicles have traversed the Nashri-Banihal section of the highway for their respective destinations, according to traffic officers monitoring traffic in Ramban, despite sporadic showers.
According to them, large trucks from Qazigund, Kashmir, traversed the Banihal-Ramban area towards Jammu in a controlled manner on the route.
Mohita Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police, encouraged people to travel carefully due to heavy rain.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir traffic department issued a new advisory for Tuesday, stating that, subject to fair weather and road clearance, Light Motor Vehicles will be allowed to move on either side, whereas HMVs will be allowed to move from Jakhani, Udhampur towards Kashmir after assessing the road and traffic situation on NH-44 Tuesday morning. The roadway was open for traffic until this report was filed.
