Srinagar, Mar 13 (UNI) The Kashmir valley remained cut-off from the rest of the country for the third day today after the 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed due to heavy snowfall and landslides leading to shortage of most essential commodities.

More than one thousand vehicles, including about those carrying passengers, are stranded on this side of the Penthal, the most troubled spot on the highway.

A traffic police official told UNI here that the highway remained closed because of landslides and shooting stones at Penthal.

There was about two to three feet of snow accumulated on the highway between Qazigund to Banihal.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, has pressed into service hundreds of workers and machines to make the highway traffic worthy.

However, continued snowfall and rain affected the repair work.

Official sources said that hundreds of passengers, including women and children besides some foreign tourists, are stranded on the highway for the past three days. However, a number of passenger, who had left Srinagar for Jammu on March 11, reached Ramban after crossing the troubled spot on foot.

Sources said in case the highway is put through, only stranded vehicles would be allowed to proceed towards their respective destination.

The closure of the highway has resulted in shortage of almost all the essential commodities, including vegetables, meat, milk, fruit, chicken and other items being imported from different parts of Jammu and other states.

The prices of local vegetables have also increased many fold with no checking from the divisional administration.

UNI