Srinagar, Jan 8 (IANS): An avalanche on the Srinagar-Jammu highway saw the crucial road link remain closed for traffic for the third consecutive day Sunday as the Border Roads Organisation busied itself in clearing the snow.The BRO moved its men and machinery to restore the 300-km highway for traffic.

"There was a 15-feet high avalanche in the Panthal area of the highway during the night and we have started clearing it since morning," Brigadier T.P.S. Rawat, chief engineer BRO, told IANS.

"Light snowfall accompanied by strong wind brought down more snow on the road in the Bannihal area, and we have started road clearing operations there too. We are confident that by today afternoon we should be able to restore traffic between Jammu and Ramban, covering 150 km stretch of the road. Hopefully the remaining stretch from Ramban to Bannihal will be cleared by this evening to restore at least one way traffic on the highway," Rawat said.

He said the runway in south Kashmir Awantipore in an air force base has also been cleared for flight operations. While the runway at Srinagar international airport is already operational for civilian air traffic.