The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), which connects Jammu and Srinagar, has been halted to vehicular traffic owing to firing stones in Ramban district, police said on Monday.
“Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH-44) blocked at Cafeteria Morh, Mehad, in Ramban district due to continuous shooting stones,” the police added. The highway is the main road which connects the Union Territory with the rest of the country. All essential supplies and vehicles pass through the highway.
According to authorities, a few hundred vehicles, including those transporting Amarnath Yatra pilgrims, were trapped on the route. According to the news agency PTI, a convoy of 174 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims has also been detained at Chanderkoot Yatra Niwas until the route is cleared.
Meanwhile, traffic was halted on the ancient Mughal Road in Poonch district on Friday owing to a landslide caused by heavy rains, according to officials. These roads to Kashmir are currently being restored.
Officials had cautioned people not to go on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway without first obtaining permission from traffic authorities. The Jammu and Kashmir police department has also issued a traffic advice for commuters to follow today, September 5.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted widespread light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy showers and thunderstorms or lightning over Jammu and Kashmir today.
On July 8, a cloudburst hit the sacred cave of Amarnath, causing a huge outpouring of water in the ‘Nallah’ surrounding the holy cave and killing 16 people. At least 36 persons were reported missing as a result of the tragedy.
The Amarnath Yatra was temporarily halted following the cloudburst catastrophe, however it was restarted on July 11 from the Nunwan Pahalgam side.
