According to the order, although two-way traffic has been restored after widening the valley-side carriageway, permanent slope stabilisation and widening of the hill-side carriageway require the deployment of heavy machinery to remove overhanging debris, which cannot be carried out safely under live traffic conditions. Invoking powers under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the district administration directed that vehicular movement on NH-44 shall remain completely suspended today to enable the NHAI to undertake intensive debris clearance, slope stabilisation and other restoration works for the safe and early reopening of the highway.

The administration has directed the Senior Superintendents of Police of Udhampur and Ramban, the Superintendent of Police (Traffic), NHW Ramban, and other field agencies to ensure proper traffic regulation, diversion arrangements and strict enforcement of the order. The NHAI has also been asked to deploy adequate manpower, machinery and equipment, maintain close coordination with the district administration, police and traffic authorities, install warning signs and barricades at vulnerable locations, and keep emergency response teams, ambulances and disaster management resources on standby throughout the operation.

Meanwhile, the Traffic Police said the movement of all kinds of vehicles shall remain suspended between Jakheni (Udhampur) and the Navyug Tunnel (Banihal) to facilitate restoration works along the affected stretch. Consequently, no vehicle shall be allowed to proceed beyond Nagrota (Jammu) towards Srinagar, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Patnitop, or beyond Qazigund towards Ramban, Udhampur and Jammu.