Over 4000 Vehicles Stranded As Jammu-Srinagar Highway Shut For 9Th Day

Jammu- The 270-kilometre-long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for vehicular traffic for the ninth consecutive day on Tuesday, with work underway on war-footing to restore a badly damaged 250-metre-long stretch in the Udhampur district.

The Doda-Kishtwar road and Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road, connecting the Union Territory of J&K with Ladakh, have also been closed due to landslides, officials said.

The highway has remained closed due to multiple blockades since August 26 following torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides, but was reopened for traffic for a few hours on August 30. In total, the highway has been closed for 15 days.

“The highway is still closed for vehicular movement from Jakheni (Udhampur) towards Srinagar and vice versa due to road blockages between Jakheni and Balli Nallah. No vehicular movement shall be allowed from Nagrota (Jammu) towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, Srinagar, and vice versa,” a traffic police advisory said.

It further advised that commuters heading to Katra and Udhampur towns should carry photo ID cards to prove their identity, ensuring smoother movement.

The men and machines of the NHAI are working on war-footing to restore the badly damaged stretch of the highway due to a massive landslide at Thard and the washing away of a part at Balli Nallah area, they said.

They added that it is the most difficult stretch as the highway had to be rebuilt here in the wake of a massive landslide.

Six large rocks, which were the main hurdles in the restoration of the highway stretch, were blasted and removed on Monday, and three more rocks were excavated to pave the way for removing additional obstacles, the officials said.“It has proved to be a big challenge. With this, the road is beginning to clear, and the blocked highway will soon be opened for traffic.”

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