Fresh Landslide on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway Leaves Hundreds Stranded
GG News Bureau
Jammu, 22nd Feb. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway continues to face closure after a recent landslide occurrence in the Ramban district on Wednesday. The obstruction has left hundreds of vehicles stranded along the 270-kilometer-long route, which serves as the sole connection between Kashmir and the rest of the country.
Efforts to restore traffic over the past three days have been unsuccessful due to major landslides and instances of shooting stones at various locations along the highway. While partial restoration of traffic was achieved on Wednesday afternoon in the Banihal-Ramban sector to alleviate the congestion of stranded vehicles, a significant landslide at Kishtwari has once again halted the movement of vehicles.
Additionally, heavy snowfall has led to the closure of several other critical roads, including the Srinagar-Ladakh road and routes connecting Line of Control (LOC) regions in Kupwara and Gurez.
According to the Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains blocked due to major landslides at Kishtwari Pather and Banihal, as well as intermittent instances of shooting stones between Nashree and Banihal. Consequently, individuals are strongly advised to refrain from traveling on National Highway-44 (NH-44) until the road is cleared.
In response to the challenging conditions, the administration has issued avalanche warnings in several areas in Kashmir, urging caution among residents living in higher elevations.
On Wednesday, a substantial snow avalanche obstructed the Sindh River in the Sonmarg area, causing it to overflow onto the adjacent Srinagar-Ladakh road. Machinery has been deployed to clear the avalanche and restore the river’s original course.
The Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police have issued a traffic advisory, recommending that individuals only undertake journeys on NH-44 after confirming the road’s status from traffic control units. Contact information for obtaining road status updates has been provided for the convenience of travelers.
