Udhampur (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], March 1: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains closed for traffic movement for the second consecutive day due to snow accumulation and adverse weather conditions. The closure of this critical highway has disrupted the transportation of essential commodities and passenger traffic between the Jammu and Kashmir divisions, affecting daily commuters and the supply of goods.
As a result of the snow, hundreds of cars and trucks are stuck at various locations along the highway. Garnai in Udhampur has emerged as a particularly congested area due to the road blockage.
The Traffic Police Department has issued a stern advisory urging people to avoid traveling on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway until restoration work is completed and the road is safe for movement. Travelers are advised to monitor updates from the traffic police on social media for real-time information.
In Ramban, another issue has emerged with the closure of Tube 1 of the Peerah-Kunfer Tunnel for traffic. The road in Peerah, located in the Ramban area, suffered significant damage after continuous rainfall over the past few days. A local resident from Ramban highlighted the precarious situation, urging the authorities to expedite the restoration work. The new road created in the area is also prone to landslides, further compounding the challenges for residents and travelers.
A resident of Ramban commented, “The T1 tunnel has been blocked because of this slide… There is a village uphill which is also on the brink of collapse… The new road is also prone to landslides… I urge the administration to deploy machinery soon so that the road is restored because people are facing issues.”
An update from Jammu and Kashmir traffic police on social media at 8 AM on Saturday confirmed that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NHW) remains closed. Restoration work is actively underway, but commuters are advised to refrain from traveling until the work is completed. Additionally, other roads like SSG Road, Bhaderwah-Chamba Road, Mughal Road, and Sinthan Road are also closed. Travelers are advised to check the status of roads via the traffic police’s Twitter handle, Facebook page, and Traffic Control Units (TCUs).
Meanwhile, in Kathua, a joint team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the police successfully rescued 11 laborers trapped in a flood at a construction site on the Ujh River on Friday morning. SDRF Inspector Mohd Iqbal confirmed that the laborers, employed by Megha Construction Company, had been trapped in the flood, but all were safely rescued by the combined efforts of the police and SDRF. The laborers were later moved to secure locations.
Authorities continue to work on restoring transportation routes and ensuring the safety of affected individuals across the region.