Srinagar: The strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway was blocked on Monday due to a fresh landslide on the highway in Udhampur district.
Traffic department officials have advised commuters not to travel on the highway before contacting the traffic control rooms in Jammu and Srinagar to find out the latest status of the road.
The highway was blocked after a landslide struck the Dewal area of Udhampur district. Officials said that debris from the landslide blocked the highway, prompting authorities to immediately launch restoration operations.
Road clearance teams and machinery have been deployed at the affected site to restore traffic at the earliest.
Authorities have cautioned commuters against travelling on NH-44 for the time being, warning that the area remains vulnerable to fresh landslides and shooting stones due to unstable weather and terrain conditions.
The Traffic Police have appealed to the public not to rely on unverified information or rumours regarding road connectivity. Travellers have been advised to check the latest highway status through the official J&K Traffic Police social media platforms or contact the Traffic Control Units at Srinagar, Ramban, and Jammu before undertaking any journey.
Officials said that traffic will be allowed only after the highway is declared safe for vehicular movement.
Further updates are expected once restoration work is completed. The Jammu-Srinagar highway is the only road link to the landlocked Valley. The highway is also used by Shri Amarnath ji Yatris and tourists to reach the Valley.
The total dependence on the highway was brought down after the train service reached the Valley, as the train service operates independent of weather conditions, while travel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway is completely dependent on weather.
A trickle of rain often triggers landslides, shooting stones and mudslides, especially in the vulnerable stretch of the highway passing through the Ramban district.
(IANS)
