Several tourists were left stranded in Kashmir as the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, the only all-weather road linking the Valley with the rest of the country, stayed closed to traffic for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. The closure of the highway has left hundreds of travellers stranded.
Kailash, a tourist from Rajasthan, said he has been stuck in Kashmir for the past two days. “We had come here to enjoy the snow, but the same snow has now become our punishment,” he added. He urged the authorities to clear the road at the earliest so that travellers could leave and reunite with their families.
He said flight cancellations and rising airfares have added to their problems. “Flights were cancelled yesterday and now ticket prices have gone up to Rs 20,000–25,000. This situation is causing us distress. If this continues, tourists will hesitate to visit Kashmir again,” he said.
Another tourist, Mohit Sharma, said the highway closure has created serious hardships for people. He said traffic is not being allowed even though the weather has improved, leaving people with no options.
“We want to go home but are stuck here. We are being forced to spend beyond our budget. Authorities should allow traffic so that people can leave,” Sharma said.
While many tourists are anxious to return, some said they were not unhappy about being stranded in the snow-covered valley. "I won't say that I am stuck. I do not feel that I am stuck. Everyone is not fortunate to be stuck here, I am,” said Shipra Bharadwaj, a Delhi University professor visiting Kashmir for the fourth time.
She said she was advised to visit the Valley during Chilla-i-Kalan, the harshest 40-day winter period when snowfall is frequent. “I had never experienced snowfall on my head before. This time I did and I am fortunate,” she added.
Meanwhile, heavy snowfall on Tuesday led to the closure of the highway and suspension of flight operations at Srinagar airport. While flight services resumed on Wednesday after weather conditions improved, the highway remained closed.
Officials said efforts were underway to restore traffic on National Highway-44, which remains shut due to snow accumulation and slippery road conditions.
They said snow clearance work was in progress, and National Highway Authority of India personnel were sprinkling salt on the road to make driving conditions safer.
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