Jammu, Sept 9 — Nearly 12,000 km of road network, including the vital Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, has been damaged by recent floods and landslides across Jammu and Kashmir, officials revealed on Monday.
The damage represents nearly a third of the Union Territory’s 42,000 km road network, Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department, Anil Kumar Singh, said while presenting a status report to Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary.
The Udhampur-Ramban stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar highway—among the worst-hit sections—is currently being restored on a war footing and is expected to be reopened for traffic by Monday evening, officials from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) informed.
Key Highlights of the Restoration Efforts
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Damaged road length: ~12,000 km of the total 42,000 km
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Jammu-Srinagar highway: Major damages on Udhampur-Ramban stretch
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Traffic update: One-way traffic to resume on Dhar-Udhampur stretch starting Tuesday
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Bridges: Out of 105 on the highway, 3 were damaged but have now been restored
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Local roads restored:
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Rajouri-Thannamandi Road
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Surankote Road
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Reasi-Arnas-Mahore
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Rajouri-Kandi-Budhal
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Pouni-Sair-Rajouri
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Beeri-Pethan and Jhulas
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Akhnoor-Poonch Road
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Pending restoration:
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Budhal-Mahore-Gul Road – to be cleared within a week
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Kishtwar-Chastoi, Doda-Kishtwar, Kishtwar-Sinthan Roads – partially restored
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Bridge Collapse Triggers Probe
The Deputy Chief Minister took serious note of the collapse of the Seri-Kath bridge in Kathua, which was constructed only a few years ago. Expressing concern over its structural integrity, he directed the NHAI to conduct a design and structural audit of all bridges constructed by the agency.
“A scientific safety audit is essential, especially in fragile mountainous regions,” the Deputy CM stated, stressing that all designs and alignments must account for the eco-sensitive terrain.
Directives Issued by Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary
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Immediate coordination with central and state agencies for speedy infrastructure restoration
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Safety and structural audit of all NHAI-constructed bridges
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Time-bound completion of all ongoing works
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Strict action against negligent contractors or agencies, including blacklisting
BRO Efforts Acknowledged
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) also briefed officials on progress, stating that temporary restoration on most key internal roads has been completed, while permanent repairs are ongoing.
With thousands of commuters and truckers stranded in recent weeks, the government has prioritized the restoration of arterial roads and connectivity in remote regions.
What’s Next
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Full restoration of Jammu-Srinagar NH by Monday night
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Continuous monitoring of fragile bridges and landslide-prone zones
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Fast-tracked audits and safety inspections across the UT
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Targeted completion deadlines with accountability enforcement
Background
Flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains in late August caused widespread damage to infrastructure across Kathua, Udhampur, Ramban, Kishtwar, Doda, and other districts, leading to disruption of essential services and logistics for nearly two weeks.
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