In Jammu and Kashmir, the 270 km long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, (NH44), the only all-weather surface link which connects Kashmir valley with the rest of the country remained closed for vehicular traffic for the third consecutive day today with agencies making efforts to ensure early restoration of the strategic National Highway.

Aakashvani Jammu Correspondent reports that the highway was closed for vehicular traffic on Saturday following incessant rains that triggered multiple landslides at several locations and also severely damaged a portion of the road near Panthiyal Tunnel and Chamba-Seeri in Ramban district, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded. Barring the Chamba-Seeri stretch where a 60 metre strip of road was washed away, the highway is almost clear of all hurdles and is traffic-worthy.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is working round the clock at Chamba-Seeri and is working on an alternate alignment to ensure early restoration of the road. The restoration work will take some time and the stranded vehicles will be cleared on priority once the road is made motorable.

However, no fresh traffic will be allowed either from Jammu or Srinagar till the clearance of the stranded vehicles. The authorities have advised people to avoid travelling on the national highway till the time confirmation is issued by the administration. 

Worth to mention, incessant rains, over the last few days, in various parts of J&K, have caused unprecedented damage to NH-44, especially the stretch in Ramban district, forcing its closure for traffic. The drivers of heavy motor vehicles are advised to take Mughal Road for the journey from Jammu to Srinagar and vice-versa. However, the Mughal Road, an alternate link between Jammu division and Kashmir valley, connecting the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu division with the Shopian district in Kashmir valley is through for both-way traffic and the traffic was moving smoothly on this road.