Jammu-Srinagar NH closed for traffic after heavy snowfall at Jawahar Tunnel, people suffering

STATE TIMES NEWS

RAMBAN: Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded at several places due to suspension of traffic on 270 Km Jammu-Srinagar NHW-44 after heavy snowfall and accumulation of snow at both sides of Jawahar Tunnel in Banihal area of Ramban.
According to Traffic police, the vehicular movement was stopped in view of slippery conditions and accumulation of snow around Jawahar Tunnel.
According to advisory from Traffic headquarters, “No vehicular movement shall be allowed traffic on Jammu-Srinagar Highway(NHW-44) from Jammu towards Srinagar and vice versa on Monday(04/01/2021).
DySP Traffic Ramban Parul Bhardwaj said that highway is blocked due snowfall and shooting stones at several places. The restoration work will be started only after improvement in weather. “Possibilities of highway restoration by today is very less.”

He appealed people to avoid journey on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway till get confirmation of it’s status from control rooms.
He informed that more than 800 Vehicles including HMVS and LMVs are stranded at Chanderkote, Ramban and Banihal . Beside hundreds of vehicles has been stopped at Nagrota and Udhampur areas as well.
Meanwhile, stranded passengers alleged that they are suffering since last night as authorities are not allowing them from Jawahar Tunnel towards their destinations.
They said that Traffic authorities allowed them from Banihal but has been stopped at Jawahar Tunnel.
They said that earlier authorities allowed traffic through newly constructed four-lanning Tunnel Nowgaam but now they are not allowing them with the excuse that Tunnel is not officially inaugurated.
Stranded passengers are demanding that they should be allowed from new Tunnel till traffic through JT not restored.