A massive landslide disrupted traffic on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Monday, affecting movement on the Srinagar-bound carriageway.
Traffic department officials said the landslide occurred near Darmathal-Dewal in the Udhampur-Chenani sector, blocking traffic and particularly affecting the upper tube towards Srinagar.
Large quantities of mud, rocks and debris fell onto the highway, prompting authorities to regulate traffic at several points along the route.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), along with local teams, deployed machinery to clear the debris and restore traffic on the affected stretch.
Traffic movement around Jakhani and Dewal-Samroli also remained affected, with intermittent halts, single-lane diversions and controlled releases being implemented depending on road conditions.
Authorities advised commuters to avoid non-essential travel on the affected stretch until weather conditions improve and the highway is declared safe for normal traffic. Motorists heading towards Kashmir were also advised to check the latest traffic advisories and exercise caution on vulnerable sections.
The nearly 300-km Jammu-Srinagar highway is a key lifeline for supplies to the landlocked Kashmir Valley. While the train service between Jammu and Srinagar has eased the impact of highway disruptions on passenger movement, the road remains crucial for transporting essential commodities into the Valley.
The highway is also a major route for transporting apples and other horticultural produce from Kashmir to markets outside the Union Territory.
With the apple harvesting season underway, timely transportation of the produce has become particularly important. Prolonged highway closures can cause significant losses to orchardists, as harvested fruit has a limited shelf life and can deteriorate if it is not transported to buyers or stored in cold-storage facilities.
(IANS Inputs)
