Srinagar, Mar03: The traffic on Srinagar-Jammu National highway remained suspended for vehicular traffic for the second consecutive day due to fresh landslides, mudslides at multiple places along the highway. As a result, hundreds of vehicles remain stranded on both sides of the highway.
Inspector General of Traffic for J&K, BhimSenTuti, informed Rising Kashmir that the highway has been blocked at more than six places due to fresh landslides. The restoration process is currently underway, with earth movers and labourers deployed to clear the debris.
“The restoration work along the highway is under process and it will take more than 24 hours to restore the traffic on the highway,” he said, adding that earth movers, labourers are on the job,” he said.
Kashmir-bound trucks have been halted at Qazigund junction, while vehicles from Jammu have been stopped at Ramban, Udhampur, and other areas to prevent further congestion. Approximately 4200 vehicles are reported to be stranded on both sides of the highway, with priority given to clearing the backlog once the road is reopened.
Restoration work is actively ongoing at Nachlana on NH-44, and travelers are advised to avoid travel on NH-44 until the road is cleared.
In a humanitarian gesture, Ramban Police and the Civil Quick Response Team (QRT) at Naka Shan Palace provided food to over 500 stranded passengers along the highway.
The traffic disruption comes after heavy rainfall triggered numerous landslides and shooting stones in the Ramban district, blocking the highway at multiple points between Nashri and Banihal. NHAI has mobilized personnel and equipment to clear the highway for one-way traffic.
Traffic on the highway has been restricted to one-way since February 26 due to damage caused by heavy rains and snowfall. The Srinagar-Leh Road and Mughal Road have also been closed due to snow accumulation.
In weather updates, higher reaches in Kashmir experienced fresh snowfall while light rain lashed the plains on Sunday. The meteorological department predicts improved weather conditions starting Monday, with intermittent light rain and snow expected in scattered places.
Director MeT, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that during the past 24 hours weather, moderate rain, snow with heavy to very heavy rain (in plains)/snow over higher reaches.
“No Significant weather activity thereafter till 10th March with possibility of light Rain/Snow at scattered places during night of 6th March to 7th March,” he added.
J&K Disaster Management Authority issued medium and high danger level avalanche warnings for eleven districts, advising residents to take precautions and avoid avalanche-prone areas.
