A massive landslide hit the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district in the wee hours of Saturday, leading to suspension of traffic on the only road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, officials said.

The landslide, triggered by incessant rains over two days, occurred near Battery Cheshma, completely blocking the 270-km arterial road, Suresh Sharma, deputy superintendent of police (traffic), national highway Ramban, said.

The traffic on the highway plies from Srinagar and Jammu alternately because of four-laning work of the highway.

Thousands of vehicles that had left for Srinagar this morning are stranded.

Sharma said men and machinery were at work to open the road.

'Given the massive debris, the restoration work will take many hours. We are on the job and are trying our best to restore the highway as soon as possible,' he said.