Srinagar, Jan 26 (KNS): Traffic movement on the crucial Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) was suspended on Monday as severe icy conditions made the road treacherous, officials confirmed.

A senior traffic police official told News Agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the suspension was necessitated after multiple vehicles experienced skidding and near-accidents on the slippery surface, particularly along the high-altitude stretch between Banihal and Ramban sectors.

"Safety of passengers is paramount. Traffic has been stopped at holding points including Chanderkote, Ramban, and Jakhani as the road surface has turned into a virtual ice sheet," the official stated.

He informed that Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and mechanical engineering departments have been mobilised to clear the ice using salt and grader machines.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel"Restoration efforts are ongoing but depend on weather conditions," he added.

The official further said stranded vehicles are being provided necessary assistance and traffic will be allowed only after a thorough assessment confirms the road's safety.

Meanwhile, commuters, including tourists and truck drivers, have expressed inconvenience due to the repeated closures, highlighting the need for permanent all-weather solutions for the valley's arterial link.

The 270-km highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, had seen partial restoration just a day earlier on Sunday following a two-day closure triggered by heavy snowfall last Friday. (KNS)