Jammu-Srinagar national highway partially restored, heavy vehicles remain stranded
The strategic 270-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was partially restored on Saturday, allowing passenger vehicles to resume travel, officials said. However, hundreds of heavy vehicles carrying goods to the Valley remained stranded, awaiting clearance to proceed.
The arterial road—the only all-weather link connecting Kashmir to the rest of the country—was closed on Thursday evening due to heavy snowfall and multiple landslides in the Ramban district.
Heavy rains triggered shooting stones, mudslides, and landslides at a dozen locations, including Kishtwari Pather, Moum Passi, Hingni, Panthiyal, Mehar, and Dalwas. Meanwhile, snowfall between Qazigund and Ramsu left the road slippery. Additionally, a section of the road near Mehar caved in, and a major landslide blocked one tube of the Kunfer-Peerah tunnel.
Continuous rainfall on Friday hampered repair efforts, officials said. However, with improved weather conditions on Saturday morning, restoration work on the 66-km Banihal-Nashri stretch was intensified.
“Light motor vehicles carrying passengers are allowed to travel from Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa,” a traffic department spokesperson said after the road was reopened. He urged commuters to follow lane discipline and avoid overtaking, which could cause congestion.
“Passengers are advised to use the highway only during daylight hours and avoid unnecessary halts between Ramban and Banihal, as there is a risk of landslides and shooting stones. Heavy motor vehicles will be allowed later, following a thorough assessment of road conditions,” the spokesperson added.
Due to ongoing construction on the national highway in Ramban district, the soil along the road remains loose, often triggering landslides and shooting stones after rain and snow.
Ramban Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary stated that at least 16 locations along the 66-km stretch had been rendered vulnerable by the recent rains.
“The road has been cleared in almost all affected areas, except Mehar, where the road width has shrunk due to sinking. This remains a challenge, and the concerned agency will address it within the next two weeks,” he told reporters in Banihal.
Chaudhary, along with Ramban Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kuldeep Singh and SSP (National Highway) Rohit Raskotra, inspected vulnerable locations.
He assured that the landslide at Peerah would not obstruct traffic, as vehicles were being diverted through the other tunnel tube. “All stranded vehicles have been cleared,” he added, advising commuters to follow traffic advisories before traveling on the highway.
Meanwhile, the meteorological center in Srinagar has issued a warning of fresh snow and rain at most locations on March 3, with moderate to heavy snowfall expected in some areas. Travellers have been advised to adhere to the traffic department’s guidelines.
