<p>Fresh snowfall on the strategic Srinagar-Jammu highway Friday forced authorities to close the highway for vehicular traffic.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A senior traffic department official said fresh snowfall occurred in Banihal and Patnitop sectors of the over 300-km long Srinagar-Jammu highway during the night.<br /><br />"Two feet deep snow had accumulated on the road near the Jawahar Tunnel and it was still snowing there in the morning.<br /><br />"All sorts of vehicular traffic have been suspended for the safety of the passengers. Road clearance operation would be started immediately after the snowfall stops," the official said.<br /><br />The official said that those who intend to travel are "advised not to undertake the journey before contacting our control rooms in Srinagar and Jammu".<br /><br />The operation of the Baramulla-Banihal train service was also suspended.<br /><br />Railway officials said the train service would be resumed after the track clearance Friday.<br /><br />All supplies of essential goods including foodstuff, medicines, cooking gas, kerosene, petrol and diesel are brought into the landlocked Valley through the Srinagar-Jammu highway.<br /><br />Any temporary closure of this highway comes handy for unscrupulous traders who start dictating prices to the consumers as soon as the news of the highway's closure spreads in here.<br /><br />The Met Office has forecast fair weather in the Valley from Saturday.<br /><br />"The present wet weather conditions will start improving from today (Friday) and from tomorrow onwards the weather would remain dry," said Sonam Lotus, director of the Met Department.</p>
<p>Fresh snowfall on the strategic Srinagar-Jammu highway Friday forced authorities to close the highway for vehicular traffic.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A senior traffic department official said fresh snowfall occurred in Banihal and Patnitop sectors of the over 300-km long Srinagar-Jammu highway during the night.<br /><br />"Two feet deep snow had accumulated on the road near the Jawahar Tunnel and it was still snowing there in the morning.<br /><br />"All sorts of vehicular traffic have been suspended for the safety of the passengers. Road clearance operation would be started immediately after the snowfall stops," the official said.<br /><br />The official said that those who intend to travel are "advised not to undertake the journey before contacting our control rooms in Srinagar and Jammu".<br /><br />The operation of the Baramulla-Banihal train service was also suspended.<br /><br />Railway officials said the train service would be resumed after the track clearance Friday.<br /><br />All supplies of essential goods including foodstuff, medicines, cooking gas, kerosene, petrol and diesel are brought into the landlocked Valley through the Srinagar-Jammu highway.<br /><br />Any temporary closure of this highway comes handy for unscrupulous traders who start dictating prices to the consumers as soon as the news of the highway's closure spreads in here.<br /><br />The Met Office has forecast fair weather in the Valley from Saturday.<br /><br />"The present wet weather conditions will start improving from today (Friday) and from tomorrow onwards the weather would remain dry," said Sonam Lotus, director of the Met Department.</p>