Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir: A massive landslide has struck the Balli Nullah area of Udhampur, burying a Hindustan Petroleum (HP) petrol pump under a huge volume of debris. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, has caused significant disruption in the region, though there have been no immediate reports of casualties.
According to officials, the landslide happened at around 7 pm, triggered by a large crack that had appeared in the nearby mountainside. The owner of the petrol pump, Jai Pal Singh Jamwal, stated that the crack had been visible, which allowed employees and others to evacuate the area and remove belongings before the collapse, preventing any loss of life. “There was no loss of life here, but there was a lot of damage to the HP petrol pump,” a fire official confirmed.
Rescue teams and machinery were immediately deployed to the site to clear the debris and assess the extent of the damage. The landslide has severely affected traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, with authorities advising commuters to use alternate routes until the road is cleared.
A local resident told the news agency ANI that the traffic is blocked at Dudhar Nallah on Dhar Road, causing frustration among people who are trying to reach Udhampur. The resident also noted that such landslides have become a recurring issue during the monsoon season and that a bus was being used to help stranded people cross the affected area.