Snowfall paralyzes Srinagar-Jammu NH, hundreds stranded

Qazigund, Dec 28: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has become a major issue for travelers once again, with hundreds of vehicles stuck along the Ramban-Banihal stretch due to slippery road conditions and ongoing efforts to clear the route.
An official confirmed that vehicles are stranded at several locations, including Banihal, Ramban, and Chanderkoot, as authorities work to make the road safe for travel. “The directions are clear—no vehicle will be allowed to move unless the road is safe for traffic,” the official said.
Syed Tajamul Imran, a resident of Shopian, is stuck at Seri Ramban. He expressed frustration over the long delay. “We’ve been waiting here since Friday evening with hardly any access to food or basic facilities. Thousands of passengers are stuck in similar conditions. It’s disheartening, and our families are worried,” he told Rising Kashmir.
Imran also criticized the lack of proper arrangements along the highway and questioned why modern infrastructure cannot handle snowfall. “Other regions with heavier snowfall manage to keep their roads open. This prolonged closure sends a poor message,” he said.
SSP Traffic Rural, Ravinder Pal Singh, told Rising Kashmir that some stranded vehicles at Qazigund were allowed to move towards Jammu on Saturday afternoon. “The road is icy and slippery. Although snowfall has stopped, we are still assessing the situation and working to restore traffic. Commuters must follow the advisories,” he said.
Mehboob Ahmad, a Srinagar resident stuck at Ramban, expressed his frustration as well. “The road condition is unacceptable. We request the authorities to speed up the work and make the highway passable to prevent further inconvenience for travellers, tourists, and locals,” he said.