Ramban, Jul 23: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was partially reopened for regulated traffic on Thursday after remaining closed for most of the day due to fresh landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones triggered by intermittent rainfall at several vulnerable locations between Udhampur and Banihal.
The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar National Highway, however, remained closed following heavy rainfall, further affecting road connectivity across the Chenab Valley.
Officials said persistent rainfall overnight and throughout Thursday triggered fresh landslides and shooting stones at several vulnerable stretches of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, disrupting vehicular movement and hampering restoration operations.
Restoration teams of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), assisted by men and heavy machinery, were pressed into service early in the morning to clear debris and restore the highway. However, intermittent rainfall continued to hamper the operations.
Following a slight improvement in weather conditions during the late afternoon, authorities allowed regulated movement of stranded Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles, including trucks carrying essential commodities, from the Joint Traffic and Police Check Post at Jakhani in Udhampur towards Kashmir.
Officials said the convoy was moving at a slow pace due to damaged road stretches, slush, and the continued threat of shooting stones at vulnerable locations.
Traffic Police personnel and civil authorities closely monitored the movement while restoration work continued simultaneously at several affected sites.
According to the Traffic Police’s Thursday morning advisory, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway had remained closed due to landslides and shooting stones at multiple locations.
The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar National Highway was also closed because of heavy rainfall, while the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) Road and the Mughal Road remained open for vehicular traffic.
Authorities advised commuters to avoid travelling on affected stretches unless movement is officially permitted and urged passengers to check the latest Traffic Police advisories before undertaking their journey.
The latest disruption comes amid an extended spell of intense monsoon activity that has repeatedly affected road connectivity across Jammu and Kashmir over the past several days.
Continuous rainfall has triggered landslides, flash floods, and shooting stones at several locations in Ramban, Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar districts.
Since the beginning of the week, adverse weather has repeatedly disrupted traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and forced the temporary suspension of the AmarnathYatra, Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra, Shiv KhoriYatra, and Sarthal Devi Yatra.
Educational institutions in Udhampur district also remained closed due to inclement weather.
Earlier this week, a massive landslide at RaggiNullah on the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar Highway claimed two lives and left six others injured after boulders struck passing vehicles.
Flash floods and landslides have also caused extensive damage to roads, houses, and public infrastructure in several parts of the Chenab Valley.
On Wednesday, a passenger vehicle was struck by shooting stones on NH-44 in the Gangroo area of Ramban district, resulting in the death of a couple and injuries to four other occupants.
Officials warned that with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting continued rainfall across the region, the possibility of fresh landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones remains high.
They said road restoration teams were working round the clock to restore full connectivity, but continuous rainfall continued to pose a major challenge.
The regulated convoy released from Jakhani, Udhampur, was proceeding slowly towards Kashmir as restoration work continued at several landslide-hit locations along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
