New Delhi: The vital Srinagar-Jammu national highway, NH44, remained closed for the second consecutive day on Sunday due to landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones triggered by incessant rains between Banihal and Ramban. Multiple blockages along the 270-km highway have hampered traffic flow, prompting the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to intensify efforts to expedite its reopening.
The closure of NH44, the sole all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, has severely disrupted essential supplies to the landlocked Valley. The highway, blocked at numerous points between Nashri and Banihal, including Dalwas, Mehad-Cafetia, and Hingni in Ramban, has led to the stranding of hundreds of passengers, including tourists, in Ramban district.
In addition to NH44, several other routes, such as the Srinagar-Leh, Mughal Road, Sinthan-Kishtwar road, Bandipora-Gurez, and Kupwara-Tangdhar road, remain snowbound and impassable. Furthermore, a section of the highway near Panthiyal has been washed away, exacerbating the transportation challenges in the region.
Efforts to clear the highway for traffic are underway, but authorities caution travellers to avoid undertaking the journey without prior communication with control rooms in Srinagar and Jammu. With police establishing control centres in district headquarters and advising the public to stay away from flooded rivers and streams, safety measures are being prioritized amidst the adverse weather conditions.
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