Ramban, Sep 12: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Friday remained partially open for stranded traffic, though vehicular movement was halted for several hours to facilitate urgent repair works and blasting of boulders at Tharad in Udhampur district.

Officials said the highway traffic was being regulated on a rotational basis at Tharad, where a 250-meter stretch was severely damaged due to torrential rains on September 2.

The vital road link had remained blocked for eight consecutive days before being partially restored on September 10.

Traffic authorities said the movement between Udhampur and Nashri is currently being managed on a one-way basis, with priority being given to vehicles carrying essential supplies to Kashmir. Stranded fruit-laden trucks from Qazigund have also been permitted to cross the damaged single-lane stretch in a regulated manner.

On Friday, traffic was suspended for a few hours to allow the blasting of heavy boulders for widening the single-lane road into two lanes.

“After completion of the necessary repair works, Srinagar-bound trucks carrying essential commodities were allowed to move in the evening,” an official said.

Traffic between Chenani and Udhampur is also being managed on a rotational basis.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Traffic, National Highway, Raja Adil Hamid, and the Project Director of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) are supervising both restoration works and traffic management at Tharad.

Meanwhile, Jammu-bound trucks released from Qazigund were stopped at Seri, Chanderkote, and Nashri during the day to avoid congestion on the damaged stretch.

Officials said that these vehicles would be allowed to proceed only after Srinagar-bound supply trucks cross the Udhampur-Chenani sector.

The repeated closures of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway due to landslides, sinking road stretches, and repair works have been causing hardships for commuters, traders, and transporters alike.

Jammu, Sep 12: Union Minister Jitendra Singh Friday visited the flood-affected areas along the International Border in Hiranagar in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. He also visited Paharpur village along the Zero Line of the Indo-Pak International Border, which was badly affected by floods.

The union minister met the victims and assured them of all possible help in their rehabilitation. On the occasion, he distributed relief material among the victims.

The minister also visited the dilapidated house of one of the affected, Roop Lal, and spent some time with the family, and had tea served by the family.

He interacted with locals who narrated the loss of their standing crops due to inundation.

Singh directed the district administration to expedite the crop damage assessment so that compensation could be provided to the affected farmers at the earliest.

He further informed that the district administration had already submitted the list of houses fully or partially damaged for relief under the SDRF norms.

Highlighting the government’s measures for relief in border areas, the union minister said that Rs 50 lakh worth of nano-technology-based vehicles were deployed to ensure the well-being of border residents.

Earlier, he visited a relief camp organised for the flood affected.

He inspected mobile and domestic water filters and purifying units and handed them over to the district administration for installation in the affected areas so that the victims could have access to safe drinking water in this difficult time.

Singh said these units would serve the sanitation needs of the flood-affected people and help prevent the spread of water-borne diseases in the calamity-struck areas.

The domestic water purifier units are designed for household use and can purify drinking water without the need for electricity, while the mobile water purifying unit, with a capacity of 3000–4000 litres per hour, can draw water from any source and runs on power from the vehicle on which it is installed.

The launch of these units is expected to strengthen safe drinking water access in vulnerable areas.

Later, Singh visited Border Out Post, BOP-Paharpur, where he was given a detailed briefing on the role of the border force during the rescue and relief operations at the time of floods in the area.

On the occasion, he addressed the soldiers to appreciate their work during the natural disaster, saying they played an important role in saving precious lives.

Singh underlined that the soldiers remained at the forefront and reached the affected people even before the local civil administration.

He informed the gathering that the Government of India was committed to building the multi-purpose dam on the Ujh rivulet.

On the last leg of his visit, Singh visited the flood-affected people in the border area of Ramgarh in Samba district.

He also met BSF personnel at BOP Tanwar, Kamore in Samba.

Singh assured that the government was ready to provide all kinds of assistance to the local administration in the rehabilitation of the flood-affected.

He said Prime Minister Narendra had already pledged all help for the victims.

Jammu, Sep 12: Just a day ahead of the commencement of new Delhi-Budgam-Delhi Joint Parcel Product Rapid Cargo Train (JPP-RCT) service to provide much sought-after reprieve to the Kashmir fruit growers on September 13, stranded apple-laden parcel train from Budgam Friday reached Jammu.

“Historic moment for fruit growers, traders and aggregators of the valley as the first delivery of apples was given successfully at Jammu Railway Station on date. The apples were transported from Budgam to Jammu in less than 6 hours by rail,” stated Senior Commercial Divisional Manager of Jammu Railway Division, Uchit Singhal.

Loading of two dedicated parcel vans (VPs), for their maiden run carrying stranded apples, from Budgam had begun on September 11, 2025, thus marking a historic era of transformation. Carrying stranded perishable fruit, out of these two Vehicle Parcel (LVPH coaches) trains carrying 46 metric tonnes (MT) – each 23 metric tonnes – of apples, one was bound for Jammu while the destination for the second VP was Adarsh Nagar in Delhi.

Meanwhile, sharing important update about the daily parcel train that will run between Budgam and Adarsh Nagar in Delhi from September 13, 2025, Singhal said, “The first JPP-RCT service, after commencing from Adarsh Nagar tomorrow, will reach Budgam. Parcel train will get loaded on September 14 from Budgam and will start in the morning of September 15.”

He stated, “Service has been highly patronised by the traders and fruit growers combined. Resultantly, the first trip of 8 VPs (parcel vans of 23 tonnes capacity each) has been fully booked by the registered fruit-traders, aggregators, fruit-growers and merchants mainly for apples.”

Singhal asserted that it was a very unique initiative taken by the railways and liked by the fruit growers and traders. “The initiative is likely to boost the economy of the J&K and give an equal opportunity and level playing field to all the small, medium and large-scale fruit growers and traders of the Valley,” he reiterated.

The daily time-tabled (regular) parcel train will start from September 13 from Adarsh Nagar Delhi for Budgam and it will depart from Budgam to Delhi on September 15, 2025.

It will be a daily service henceforth and will comprise 8 VPs and Seating cum Luggage Rake (SLR). A notification for an 8 Vehicle Parcel (VP) daily time-tabled Joint Parcel Product- Rapid Cargo Service (JPP-RCS) parcel train Adarsh Nagar-Bari Brahmana-Budgam (Ex ANDI – BBMN – BDGM) was issued.

According to railway authorities, this 8 Vehicle Parcel train will originate from Budgam Railway Station (BDGM) at 6.15 am and reach Adarsh Nagar Railway Station (ANDI) at 5 am the next day – a very suitable time for apples to arrive at the Delhi market early in the morning. They assert that more wagons would be added if demand increased.

This dedicated JPP-RCS train service has been launched by Indian Railways to ensure efficient, timely and safe transportation of perishable produce—primarily fruits—to markets across India.

“The new service will operate daily on the Budgam–Adarsh Nagar Delhi–Budgam (BDGM–ANDI–BDGM) route, facilitating improved market access and reducing post-harvest losses. This initiative is expected to significantly benefit both fruit growers and consumers by minimizing spoilage and ensuring the produce reaches its destination in fresh condition,” Singhal said.

To facilitate the business class, the facility of loading and unloading of goods will be provided at Bari Brahmana station. Security arrangements will be made by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Security will be ensured on both sides of the train. The first service of this parcel would depart from Adarsh Nagar Delhi to Budgam at 12.10 pm on September 13, 2025 and would depart from Budgam to Delhi at 6.15 am on September 15, 2025.c

Kishtwar, Sep 12: The District Magistrate Kishtwar on Friday ordered a temporary restriction on vehicular movement along the Kishtwar–Dul Road at KM 8.50 (near RR Camp) to facilitate blasting of a massive boulder that had fallen on the road following torrential rains earlier this month.

An order issued by District Magistrate Pankaj Kumar Sharma, vehicular traffic on the stretch will remain suspended on 13 September 2025 between 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm to ensure safe execution of blasting operations. The activity has been scheduled by the concerned agency to clear the obstruction and restore smooth movement of heavy vehicles.

The Officer Commanding, 118 RCC (GREF), has been directed to ensure timely completion of the blasting work and adopt all safety measures during the operation, while the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, will oversee strict implementation of the order.

DM further instructed the District Information Officer to give wide publicity to the restriction through print, electronic, and social media, ensuring commuters plan their travel accordingly.