Srinagar, Apr 08: Deputy Inspector General (Traffic) Jammu, Haseeb Mughal, on Wednesday urged commuters to avoid travel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, saying continuous rainfall over the past two to three days has triggered multiple landslides and made road conditions unsafe.
“For the past 2–3 days, there has been continuous rain across the entire Jammu zone,” DIG Mughal said, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
He said the major landslides have been reported from Nashri, Karol, Khander (Kunfar) Nallah, Banihal and Shalgari.
He said restoration work has been taken up at several locations, particularly in Karol, where partial clearance has been achieved. “Work has been done in Karol and is still ongoing,” he said.
Highlighting the scale of efforts, he said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is working round the clock to restore connectivity. “NHAI is carrying out restoration work 24×7, but due to continuous bad weather, the road is not being cleared immediately,” he said.
The DIG said traffic has been stopped from both sides as a precautionary measure. “We have halted traffic at Qazigund for vehicles coming from Srinagar and also stopped vehicles at Udhampur for those heading towards the Valley,” he said, adding that the highway has not been restored yet.
He urged people not to take risks. “We request people not to put their lives in danger in such situations. Those who have reached Qazigund should go back and plan their journey again,” he said.
He added that commuters on the other side should also avoid proceeding. “People in Udhampur are advised to either stay in Jammu or return until the highway is cleared,” he said.
The DIG said that travellers must verify road conditions before setting out. “Before starting your journey, please contact the traffic control room, police, or security agencies to ensure your journey is safe. Travel only after proper clearance,” he said.
He reiterated that authorities are closely monitoring the situation and restoration efforts are ongoing. “If the weather improves, we will try to restore the highway as soon as possible,” he added—(KNO)
