The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been shut down due to mudslides in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, triggered by heavy rain following a cloudburst, according to a traffic police official.
The intense rainfall also caused flash floods in the Chenab river, leading authorities in the Reasi and Akhnoor areas to issue alerts advising people to stay away from the riverbanks.
“Vehicular movement has been halted from both directions on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway because of mudslides at Chamba Seri in Ramban, a consequence of flash floods caused by a cloudburst,” the traffic police officer stated.
Commuters are being urged to postpone their travel plans until the highway is cleared. “Kindly verify the road conditions before commencing your journey,” the officer advised.
Officials reported significant rainfall after a cloudburst in the Chamba Seri region, which led to flash floods and mudslides on the highway, as well as a landslide in Chamba that blocked the route.
Fortunately, there have been no reports of fatalities or injuries. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed three machines to expedite the clearing of the highway, according to NHAI project director Parshotam Kumar.
This is not the first such incident recently. On April 20, heavy rain induced by a cloudburst caused flash floods and landslides in the Ramban district, tragically resulting in the deaths of three individuals and damage to numerous homes, shops, and roads.
Hundreds of vehicles were stranded last month when the strategic 250-kilometer national highway, the sole all-weather link between Kashmir and the rest of the country, was blocked by debris from the mountains at approximately a dozen locations between Nashri and Banihal.
