Jammu, Sep 5: In a bid to restore normalcy and resume the flow of essential supplies to the Kashmir Valley, Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar on Friday visited the worst-hit areas of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Udhampur district to review ongoing restoration efforts.
The 270-kilometre-long arterial highway has remained closed for the fourth consecutive day due to multiple landslides and severe damage to road stretches, triggered by relentless rainfall across the Jammu region.
Accompanied by senior officers, Kumar inspected the damaged sites at Thard in Udhampur, where National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials briefed him on the ground situation and progress. A massive hill shift has damaged a 200-metre stretch of the highway, rendering the vital Jammu-Srinagar link inaccessible.
“We are trying to reopen the highway by tomorrow morning so that essential supplies are facilitated to the valley. Efforts are on,” the Divisional Commissioner told reporters, assuring that the administration is working round-the-clock. “As the weather has improved, restoration work has been sped up,” he added.
Officials said that debris clearance and road reconstruction operations are being conducted on a war footing. NHAI teams, along with heavy machinery, are focused on removing multiple landslides, particularly in the Udhampur-Ramban-Banihal section.
Among the worst-hit stretches are Shalgadi, Nachilana, Panthyal, Maroog, and Peerah in Ramban-Banihal, where landslides have damaged retaining walls and road sections, and even entered one tube of the Peerah tunnel. In Udhampur, approximately 10 km of road from Jakhani to Dewal, including Thard and Bali Nallah, has suffered significant damage.
Due to the closure, over 3,700 vehicles remain stranded across Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, and the Kashmir valley, officials said.
The administration remains hopeful that improved weather conditions will aid in speeding up repairs and reopening the highway at the earliest.
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