Jammu, March 10 (IANS): Fresh snowfall and landslides Monday forced closure of the strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway.

An official of the traffic department told IANS that due to fresh snowfall in Banihal sector and landslide at Panthal in Ramban district of Jammu region, vehicular movement on the highway was halted Monday morning.

"There was a landslide at Panthal near Ramban town due to heavy rainfall in the area during the night. The landslide has been cleared now, but slippery road conditions in the Banihal sector because of snowfall still exist.

"We have suspended traffic on the highway for the safety of passengers. Travellers are requested to contact the control rooms at Jammu and Srinagar before undertaking the journey", the official said.

The over 300-km-long highway is the landlocked Kashmir Valley's only surface link with the rest of the country, although a rail link connects the Valley with Banihal town through an over 11-km-long tunnel across the Pir Panjal mountain range.