Srinagar, Dec 26 (UNI) The Kashmir valley was cut off again from the rest of the country after the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed due to fresh snowfall.

Snowfall has also cut off the Keran with the Kashmir valley.

A traffic police official told UNI that the highway, only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was closed this afternoon following fresh snowfall.

The road has become slippery due to snowfall forcing authorities to suspend the traffic for security reasons.

Official sources said hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers from Sriangar, were stranded on the highway.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintainance of the highway, has pressed into service machines and men to clear the snow on the highway.

This is the fourth time the highway was closed during December.

However, frequent closure of the highway forced authorities to allow only one-way traffic.

The closure of the only road link has resulted in increase in the prices of essential commodities and shortage of LPG and other items.

UNI BAS PDM KN1653