Heavy snowfall blocks movement on Jammu-Srinagar Highway (Lead:Kashmir snowfall)

Heavy snowfall has blocked traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, including the 2.5 kilometre-long Jawahar Tunnel.

Srinagar, Dec 12 : Heavy snowfall has blocked traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, including the 2.5 kilometre-long Jawahar Tunnel.

Hundreds of vehicles, mostly trucks, on their way from Jammu to Srinagar were stopped by the traffic authorities and were not allowed to proceed towards Srinagar.

The 300-km-long highway is the only road that connects Kashmir Valley to the rest of India.

The Border Roads Organisation personnel are trying to clear the road, but the work is constantly hampered by bad weather.

There were long queues of trucks parked along the route.

Stranded drivers complained of lack of drinking water and food.

"We are facing a lot of problems due to the snowfall. There is scarcity of food items and water. Moreover police are also harassing us," Surjeet Singh, a truck driver.

Reports of snowfall have also been received from the hill resorts of Pahalgam, Kokernag, Verinag, Duksum and Ahrabal.

The holy cave shrine at Amarnath has also received heavy snowfall, the sources said, adding, it was also snowing in parts of Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama and Anantnag Districts.

Sheets of snow covered rooftops, trees, vehicles and roads in the Anantnag district as the region received fresh snowfall.

Locals dressed in traditional winter gowns known as 'pherans' trudged down roads using umbrellas to shield them from the snowflakes.

Bashir Ahmed, a local said: "People were not expecting this. They were not ready for the snowfall. Now the weather is very cold. People are now gearing up for this change."

ANI