Jammu: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and 10 other roads in the Jammu region were shut on Wednesday after landslides and mudslides triggered by heavy rains, leaving more than 2,000 vehicles stranded.
Teams with heavy machinery are working amid downpours and flash floods to clear debris and restore traffic. The 250-km highway linking the Valley with the rest of the country has been blocked at several points due to landslides, mudslides, road washouts, and boulders rolling down slopes.
Other major routes, including the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch highway, Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway, Simthan-Anantnag road, and the Mughal Road, are also closed either because of landslides or as a precaution against further damage.
“The Jammu-Srinagar highway, Mughal Road, Sonamarg-Srinagar-Gumari road, and Sinthan road are closed for vehicular movement due to landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones at multiple locations,” J&K traffic police said, advising people to avoid travel until the weather improves and restoration work is complete.
Authorities said no vehicles will be allowed from Jakheni (Udhampur) towards Srinagar as land has sunk at Thard, besides multiple landslides along the stretch. Movement from Nagrota (Jammu) towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, and Srinagar has also been halted. Commuters from Katra and Udhampur have been asked to carry valid photo ID to ease movement when partial traffic is restored.
Meanwhile, over 300 vehicles remain stranded on the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch highway, which has been closed since Tuesday night at Chowki Choura near the Kandi tunnel due to road damage. The Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway is blocked by landslides at Pul Doda, while the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag highway and Mughal Road also remain shut.
Additionally, nine inter-district roads across Kathua, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Reasi have been closed after landslides and boulder falls, officials said.
