Srinagar, Nov 14 (UNI) The national highway, the only road connecting Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir was closed for traffic on Saturday due to slippery road conditions following snowfall early this morning.
"We have closed the Srinagar-Leh national highway following snowfall at Sonamarg, Zojila pass, Meenmarg and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia," a traffic police official told UNI.
He said, no vehicle was allowed from Sonmarg, in the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal, on the highway due to snowfall.
There is forecast for more snowfall during the next 48 hours which could further impact the movement on the highway, he said.
However, traffic will be resumed only if there is improvement in the weather and snowfall stops, he added.
Meanwhile, the a high level committee has been constituted to make necessary arrangements to keep the highway open till December 31st this year.
The road remained closed during winter months due to ten to 20 feet of snowfall at Zojila and other places besides threat of avalanches.
However, work in tunnel at Zojla pass has already been started to make the highway all weather road.
UNI BAS JW1530