Jammu, Sept 6: A brief but heavy morning downpour on Saturday set back the restoration work on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, keeping the vital 270-km route shut for the fifth consecutive day, officials said.
Thard Stretch Buried Again, Fresh Efforts Begin
At the heart of the disruption is a 250-metre stretch at Thard in Udhampur, which remains buried under a moving hill. NHAI’s Project Manager for the Ramban sector, Shubam, confirmed the setback.
“What we gained on Friday was washed away by just half an hour of intense rain this morning,” he said.
“We’ve restarted operations and hope to clear the road tonight or by early morning.”
Highway Cleared Except for One Stretch
Apart from the Thard segment, the rest of the four-lane highway has been cleared for two-way traffic, Shubam added. The Jammu-Srinagar highway is the only all-weather road linking the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country.
Heavy rainfall earlier this week triggered landslides, mudslides, and falling rocks, damaging road patches between Udhampur and Banihal.
Hundreds of Vehicles Stranded
With the highway closed, hundreds of vehicles, mainly trucks carrying essential supplies, are stranded on both sides, officials reported.
Mughal Road Open, Sinthan Route Still Shut
A traffic department official said the Mughal Road, which connects Poonch and Rajouri to Shopian in South Kashmir, is open for light motor vehicles.
However, the Kishtwar–Sinthan–Anantnag road remains closed for the fourth day, despite ongoing clearance work.
Weather Outlook: Intermittent Rain Likely
A spokesperson from the meteorological department said light rain or thundershowers are expected at a few places on Saturday.
The forecast for September 7 and 8 includes moderate rain or thunder in parts of the Jammu division during the night and early morning hours.
“There is no significant weather activity expected until September 12,” the spokesperson added.
Recent Comments