The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service has been suspended indefinitely in view of the earthquake that struck Jammu and Kashmir [Images] on Saturday, regional passport officer S Sri Ramalu said.

"The bus service has been suspended till further orders in view of the natural calamity that has struck Jammu and Kashmir," Ramalu told PTI in Srinagar [Images].

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He said the suspension was temporary and should not be construed as cancellation.

The service would be resumed as soon as conditions permit the same, he added.

The next Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus due to ply on October 20 was put in jeopardy yesterday after the Aman Setu (Peace Bridge) connecting Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was damaged after the earthquake.    

There is very little possibility of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus plying on the route on October 20, defence officials said.

"Two pyres of the Aman Setu have been damaged on the PoK side and I would assume that even crossing the bridge by foot would be hazardous," they said.

Officials also said that the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was blocked at many places due to landslides and boulders from nearby mountains and hills and it would require some time to make the entire stretch motorable again.

A nine-kilometer stretch between Jula to Kaman post, the last point on the Indian side of Kashmir, has been blocked by landslides caused by heavy rainfall, they said, adding other stretches had also been blocked by boulders and landslides.

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