The National Highway NH-1A, the only life line to Kashmir valley has given this year the worst headache during its entire existence. Earlier too it had once broken down during winter for a month or so. That time supplies including medicine and kerosene had to be flown to Srinagar in IAF aircraft. Since the partition of the Indian sub-continent in 1947 which resulted in the J & K state getting divided in two parts, one each with the newly created countries, Kashmir has remained physically isolated especially during winters. This unnatural partition also closed the only real life line of Kashmir along the Jhelum River known as the Jhelum Valley Road. Prior to partition this had been the main connection of the valley to the outside world.
