The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains closed for the second consecutive day due to heavy snowfall and rain accumulation, disrupting the transportation of essential goods and passenger traffic between Jammu and Kashmir. Hundreds of vehicles, including cars and trucks, are stranded at various locations along the highway, with the Garnai area in Udhampur facing the worst congestion.
The Traffic Police Department has issued a strong advisory urging travelers to avoid the highway until restoration efforts are completed and the road is reopened. In addition to the highway closure, Tube 1 of the Peerah-Kunfer Tunnel in Ramban has also been shut for traffic due to road damage caused by ongoing rainfall over the past few days.
Local residents in Ramban have expressed concerns over the road’s vulnerability, citing a potential landslide risk in the area. One local stated, “The T1 tunnel has been blocked due to a slide… A village uphill is also at risk of collapsing, and the new road is prone to landslides. We urge the administration to deploy machinery to restore the road soon.”
In a social media update on Saturday morning, Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police confirmed that the Jammu-Srinagar NHW remains closed, with restoration work ongoing. Commuters are advised to refrain from traveling on the highway until further notice. Additionally, other roads like SSG Road, Bhaderwah-Chamba Road, Mughal Road, and Sinthan Road are also closed. Travelers are urged to check the traffic police’s social media platforms for real-time updates.
Meanwhile, a joint team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police successfully rescued 11 laborers trapped by flooding at a construction site on the Ujh River in Kathua. SDRF Inspector Mohd Iqbal confirmed the rescue operation, stating that all trapped workers were safely moved to secure locations.