Landslides hit at multiple places; IGP urges commuters to stay away
Jammu: As heavy rains continue to lash Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) — the Valley’s lifeline — has been closed due to multiple landslides, mudslides, and sinking stretches.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Traffic, M Suleman Chaudhary, on Tuesday urged commuters to avoid traveling on the highway until the weather improves and restoration work is completed.
IGP Chaudhary said the highway, which had been partially reopened over the past two days for movement of essential supplies, was shut again after fresh landslides hit several stretches on Tuesday morning.
“Our priority was to allow trucks carrying essentials to the Valley. But since this morning, no restoration work could be taken up as continuous landslides hampered clearance operations,” he told reporters.
Hundreds of vehicles, including trucks, remain stranded on both sides of the highway. The IGP advised people not to undertake unnecessary travel and to confirm the status of the road before embarking on any journey.
On the issue of fruit transportation, IGP Chaudhary clarified that trucks with more than six tyres are not being allowed on the Mughal Road. “Over the past two to three days, more than 1,500 fruit-laden trucks were allowed to move towards Jammu. Currently, there are about 1,500 to 1,600 trucks stranded at Qazigund, though very few of them are carrying fruit,” he said.
As per the advisory, LMVs and six-tyre trucks carrying essentials are being allowed on Mughal Road between Poonch and Shopian, subject to weather and road conditions. Cut-off timings have been fixed by the district administration for regulated movement.
According to the Traffic Police Headquarters, one tube each of the Lakhanpur-Madhopur, Sahar Khad, and Vijaypur bridges on the Jammu-Pathankot Highway has been damaged due to incessant rains. The other tubes, however, remain functional for regulated traffic.
The Kishtwar–Sinthan–Anantnag road (NH-244) has also been closed for vehicular movement following landslides.
On the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) road, continuous rainfall is hampering movement. Traffic will be allowed only in a regulated manner and after clearance from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
The Traffic Police has strongly advised people to avoid travel on NH-44 until weather conditions improve and restoration work is complete. “There is apprehension of flash floods, landslides, and shooting stones at vulnerable places. Safety of commuters is our top priority,” the advisory said.
Commuters have been asked to stay updated through Traffic Control Units (TCUs) at Jammu, Srinagar, Ramban, Udhampur, Kishtwar, and Kargil or follow real-time updates on the official J&K Traffic Police Twitter and Facebook pages.
