Jammu: Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was suspended again on Tuesday as torrential rain led to mudslides and boulders sliding off slopes at several places on the 250-km road.
The traffic on the highway was suspended after mudslides and shooting of stones at various places between Samroli and Banihal sector, officials said.
A traffic department official said vehicular movement could not be allowed as a precautionary measure in view of the bad weather and heavy rain forecast.
In a forecast issued on Monday evening, a spokesman of the meteorological department predicted moderate to heavy rainfall in most parts of Jammu division on September 2 and 3.
“There is a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall over Kathua, Jammu, Udhampur and Reasi and moderate to heavy rainfall over Doda, Samba, Rajouri, Poonch, Ramban, Kishtwar in Jammu region and Anantnag and Kulgam in south Kashmir mainly towards late night of September 2 or early morning of September 3 till late afternoon,” the spokesman said.
There is a possibility of cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides or shooting of stones from hillocks at many vulnerable places and rise in water level in rivers and streams, he said, asking people to stay away from water bodies and avoid landslide-prone areas.
The highway was opened for partial traffic only on Monday after remaining closed for six days and accordingly most of the stranded traffic, including trucks carrying essential commodities to Kashmir were cleared, the officials said.
The downpour was continuing in most parts of Jammu region when last reports were received, they said.
According to the MET department, Kathua district recorded the highest 25.2 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours ending 8.30 am Tuesday followed by Jammu (17.8 mm), Batote in Ramban (17.6 mm) and Katra (15.8 mm).
In Kashmir valley, Qazigund along Jammu-Srinagar national highway recorded overnight rainfall of 23.2 mm, Gulmarg in north Kashmir (14.8 mm), Pahalgam in south Kashmir (11.4 mm) and Srinagar (6.1 mm), the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), Mughal Road, and Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) Road will all see regulated movement due to landslides, sinking stretches, and weather conditions, while the Kishtwar–Sinthan–Anantnag road has been declared closed for traffic, officials said.
According to the Traffic Police Headquarters, vehicular traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway will be allowed in a regulated manner between Jakhani in Udhampur and Qazigund, depending on weather conditions and road clearance.
Officials said a large portion of the road has sunk at Darda, Udhampur, while landslides continue to affect Ramban and other stretches. Commuters have been asked to carry valid documents and to strictly follow traffic advisories issued by authorities.
On the Srinagar–Sonamarg–Gumri road, subject to clearance by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) will be allowed from Srinagar towards Kargil between 0500 hrs and 1000 hrs. From Kargil to Srinagar, LMVs will be permitted between 1130 hrs and 1730 hrs.
The Mughal Road, linking Poonch in Jammu with Shopian in south Kashmir, will also remain operational under restrictions. LMVs and private cars will be allowed from both sides, but HMVs carrying essential commodities will be permitted only from Poonch towards Shopian between 0800 hrs and 1500 hrs, and from Shopian towards Poonch between 0800 hrs and 1700 hrs.
Traffic authorities have also issued cut-off timings for LMVs and passenger vehicles on the Mughal Road. From the Jammu side, vehicles will be permitted from Nagrota (0500–1100 hrs) and Jakheni in Udhampur (0600–1200 hrs). From the Srinagar side, vehicles will be allowed from Qazigund (0700–1300 hrs). Officials emphasized that no vehicle will be permitted beyond the prescribed timings.
The Traffic Police advised commuters to travel only after checking road status from control units in Jammu, Srinagar, Ramban, Udhampur, and Kargil. People have been urged to remain cautious in view of the risk of landslides, shooting stones, and sudden blockages along the hilly stretches.
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Tawi River: 13.5 feet, just 0.5 below alert level
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Chenab: 30.5 feet, a couple of feet below alert level.
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Tarnah, Ujh and Ravi rivers in Kathua, and the Tawi in Udhampur crossed the alert levels during the day but started receding in the evening following a break in the rains.
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The Basantar river in Samba also crossed the alert level of four meters during the day and is still increasing, the officials said.
