JAMMU, Sept. 7 -- Heavy downpour again hampered the efforts of the National Highway Authority of India to restore traffic on the landslide-hit Jammu-Srinagar national highway which remained closed for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday, officials said.

The pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills also remained suspended for the 13th straight day, while Border Roads Organisation (BRO) restored traffic on Basohli-Bani road in Kathua district after bypassing the damaged stretch, the officials said.

"The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is still closed for vehicular movement. Restoration work is going on," a traffic department official said, advising people not to undertake their journey on the arterial road till the rest...