<p>A massive landslide on Friday blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Banihal, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded, officials said.</p>.<p>The landslide struck the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, at Romepadi around 11 am during the ongoing work on a four-laning project, they said.</p>.<p>A road clearance operation has been launched by the concerned agencies.</p>.<p>Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic (National Highway), Asgar Malik said, "Big boulders rolled down from a hillock and completely blocked the highway. At least four hours are required to clear the debris for the restoration of traffic on the highway," he said.</p>.<p>The traffic has been halted on both sides of the highway, he said.</p>.<p>According to the officials, the road clearance agencies have to work very cautiously to ensure that no damage is done to a bridge providing connectivity to an under-construction railway tunnel. </p>
<p>A massive landslide on Friday blocked the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Banihal, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded, officials said.</p>.<p>The landslide struck the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, at Romepadi around 11 am during the ongoing work on a four-laning project, they said.</p>.<p>A road clearance operation has been launched by the concerned agencies.</p>.<p>Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic (National Highway), Asgar Malik said, "Big boulders rolled down from a hillock and completely blocked the highway. At least four hours are required to clear the debris for the restoration of traffic on the highway," he said.</p>.<p>The traffic has been halted on both sides of the highway, he said.</p>.<p>According to the officials, the road clearance agencies have to work very cautiously to ensure that no damage is done to a bridge providing connectivity to an under-construction railway tunnel. </p>