After remaining closed for three consecutive days, the 300-km-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the only road link which connects the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was reopened to traffic this evening.
The Gammon Indian Limited which was entrusted with the task of four-laning the Udhampur-Ramban project managed to repair a sunken portion of the highway at Kikkad Morh in the Tringla area of Batote after heavy rain on Saturday, allowing traffic authorities to clear all stranded vehicles.
“We have cleared the road for traffic after repairing the damaged portion at Batote this evening. All stranded vehicles are being cleared,” said Sanjay Kotwal, Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, National Highway.
The sinking of the road caused extensive damage to 19 houses in Batote, besides disrupting vehicular movement.
Four of the houses collapsed under the landslide, three houses were badly damaged and seven houses developed cracks.
An incessant downpour on March 18 night caused landslides at several places and sinking of the road at some places between Batote and Banihal.
National highway reopens to traffic after three days
