Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar inspected restoration efforts on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which has been closed for four consecutive days due to heavy rainfall triggering multiple landslides and road damage in Udhampur district. The 270-kilometer highway, a critical lifeline connecting Jammu and Srinagar, has left over 3,700 vehicles stranded across Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, and the Kashmir Valley.

Accompanied by senior officials, Kumar reviewed progress at the Thard area in Udhampur, where a massive hill movement damaged a 200-meter stretch of the highway. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) briefed him on the intensive efforts to clear debris and restore connectivity. Severely affected areas include Shalgadi, Nachilana, Panthyal, Maroog, and Peerah in the Ramban-Banihal section, where retaining walls and road stretches have been washed away, with a heavy landslide impacting one tube of the Peerah tunnel. In Udhampur, approximately 10 kilometers of road between Jakhani, Thard, Bali Nallah, and Dewal have also been affected.

Speaking to reporters, Kumar emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We are trying to reopen the highway by tomorrow morning so that essential supplies are facilitated to the valley.” With improved weather conditions, debris clearance operations have accelerated, supported by NHAI’s men and machinery working on a war footing in the Udhampur-Ramban-Banihal section. The restoration efforts aim to ensure safe passage for commuters and resume the flow of critical supplies to the Kashmir Valley, highlighting the highway’s indispensable role in the region’s connectivity and economy.

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