JAMMU, Sept 4: Kashmir Valley was completely cut off from the rest of the country on Thursday as all major surface links, including the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, remained closed due to multiple landslides, mudslides, and road washouts triggered by incessant rains.

Officials said the highway, along with Mughal Road, Sinthan-Anantnag Road, Jammu–Rajouri–Poonch Highway, and Batote–Doda–Kishtwar Highway, has been shut, leaving over 3,500 vehicles stranded across Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, and Kashmir Valley.

“The Jammu–Srinagar highway is closed from Jakhani in Udhampur towards Srinagar and vice versa due to road damage at multiple places. No movement shall be allowed from Nagrota towards Srinagar and vice versa,” a traffic police advisory said.

The worst-affected stretches include Shalgadi, Nachilana, Panthyal, Maroog, and Peerah in Ramban–Banihal sector, where retaining walls and entire road patches have been washed away. A massive landslide has also blocked one tube of the Peerah tunnel. In Udhampur, nearly 10 km of road has been damaged between Jakhani, Thara D, Balli Nallah and Dewal.

The Jammu–Rajouri–Poonch Highway has been closed since Wednesday night at Chowki Choura near the Kandi tunnel, stranding over 400 vehicles, while the Batote–Doda–Kishtwar road remains blocked at Pul Doda with more than 200 vehicles stranded.

Restoration work is underway on a war footing, with agencies deploying heavy machinery and men to clear debris and rebuild damaged portions, officials said. However, they cautioned that recurring landslides and shooting stones are hampering efforts.

With all road arteries cut off, air travel from Srinagar airport and the railway link from Katra to Srinagar remain the only functional connectivity for the Valley. The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway serves as the lifeline for essential supplies, passenger movement and trade, making its prolonged closure a matter of grave concern.