Srinagar, Dec. 29: Authorities on Monday ordered the temporary closure of key roads linking Kashmir with the Chenab Valley in view of snowfall forecasts and slippery road conditions, officials said.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kokernag Prince Kumar ordered the suspension of vehicular traffic on the Daksum–Sinthan Top–Chhatroo Road (NH-244), which connects Kashmir with Kishtwar district, and the Gowran–Margan Top Road.
In an official order, the SDM said, “Snowfall during the intervening night of December 28 and 29, coupled with the forecast of further snowfall over the coming days, has rendered these routes unsafe for vehicular movement.”
The order said the decision was taken “in the interest of public safety,” adding that traffic on both roads will remain suspended until further notice.
“The roads shall be reopened only after snow clearance by the concerned departments and certification that the routes are fit for vehicular traffic,” the order said.
The Station House Officer (SHO) of Larnoo has been directed to strictly enforce the closure by erecting barricades at designated naka points and preventing any unauthorized movement during the closure period.
Authorities have appealed to the public and all concerned departments to strictly adhere to the order to avoid any untoward incidents.
Roads linking Kashmir with the Chenab Valley typically remain closed for nearly six months during winter due to heavy snowfall.
While Kishtwar town remains accessible through the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway via Doda, the remote twin valleys of Marwa and Warwan — home to nearly 40,000 people across about 40 villages — remain cut off from the district headquarters during winter.
The 100-kilometer Larnoo–Margan Top–Warwan road, opened in 2007 to connect the valleys with Kokernag in south Kashmir, serves as their only surface link to the outside world. In its absence, residents either trek long distances to reach Kishtwar or wait until summer to travel via the Kokernag–Sinthan route.
Meanwhile, the Mughal Road, which connects south Kashmir’s Shopian district with Rajouri and Poonch in the Pir Panjal region, remains open but may be closed if snowfall resumes. The road was earlier shut following light to moderate snowfall and accumulation at Peer Ki Gali.