Jammu: The 300-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway re-opened for vehicular traffic today (Dec 27, 2006) after authorities cleared blockades caused due to shooting stones and accumulation of snow at different stretches of the key highway.

The highway was blocked yesterday due to shooting stones triggered by rains at Panthal, 168 kms from here, and slippery conditions caused by snowfall around the Jawahar Tunnel.

The road near Panthal has been restored by Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which maintains the highway, police said, adding the snow has also been removed on the road leading to the Jawahar tunnel, officials said.

However, only stranded vehicles, including passenger buses, have been allowed to move to ply from 1000 hours today.

The regular traffic from Jammu and Srinagar would be allowed to ply only after the stranded vehicles pass, officials said.

Several hundred vehicles were stranded yesterday following rain and snowfall near the highway, the only road linking Kashmir to rest of the country.