SRINAGAR: In a swift response to the devastation caused by a cloudburst in Ramban district, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today visited the affected areas to personally assess the ground situation. His visit came as the Traffic Police Headquarters issued an advisory suspending vehicular movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) for tomorrow, citing ongoing restoration works in the flood-hit zone.
Accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner of Ramban and senior civil and police officials, the Chief Minister travelled by road from Srinagar and reached Marog, one of the worst-affected villages. Demonstrating deep concern, he trekked several kilometres on foot through rugged terrain to Kela Morh, where flash floods triggered by the cloudburst had caused widespread destruction.
The natural calamity has claimed three lives and inflicted severe damage on residential structures, vehicles, and critical segments of road infrastructure. With large swathes of debris and damage along the highway, the Kashmir Valley remained cut off from the rest of the country for the second consecutive day.
Interacting with local residents and district officials, Omar Abdullah was briefed on the extent of the damage and the progress of ongoing rescue and relief efforts. He expressed condolences to the bereaved families and assured victims that the government was committed to their rehabilitation.
“The scale of destruction is deeply distressing. Our administration is on the ground, working tirelessly to ensure the safety, relief, and rehabilitation of every affected family,” the Chief Minister said. “We will leave no stone unturned in standing by our people during this difficult time,” he added, directing the departments concerned to expedite the restoration of the highway.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that clearance operations were in full swing, with teams from the Public Works Department, Border Roads Organisation, disaster response units, police, and local volunteers working round the clock to remove mudslides and boulders.
Meanwhile, the traffic advisory stated that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway would remain closed tomorrow as the road surface remains unfit for traffic. People have been strongly advised not to travel on the route until it is declared safe.
The advisory also mentioned that the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag road (NH-244) remains closed due to fresh snowfall, with a decision on reopening pending clearance from the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
On the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari route, only one-way traffic for light motor vehicles with anti-skid chains followed by six-tyre heavy motor vehicles will be allowed from Kargil to Srinagar, subject to weather and road conditions and clearance from the Border Roads Organisation. These vehicles will be allowed from Minamarg up to 1:30 pm only.
The Mughal Road connecting Jammu and Srinagar via Poonch will be open for passenger and private light vehicles from both sides, between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm, again subject to weather and road conditions and clearance from the General Reserve Engineer Force.
Specific cut-off timings have been issued for various checkpoints on the Mughal Road. From Jammu, vehicles must cross Akhnoor by 10:00 am, Bhambla by 11:00 am, Rajouri by 1:00 pm, Manjakote by 1:30 pm, Surankote by 2:30 pm, and Behramgala by 3:00 pm. From Srinagar, the last allowable times include TRC Srinagar (12:30 pm), Nowgam and Pantha Chowk (1:00 pm), Chandhara Pampore and other downstream locations by 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
Movement on the Thanamandi-DKG-Baffliaz stretch remains suspended, and the Bhaderwah-Chamba road also continues to be closed due to snow accumulation.
Authorities have urged commuters to verify road conditions before undertaking travel, through the designated traffic control units in Jammu (0191-2459048, 0191-2740550, 9419147732, 103), Srinagar (0194-2450022, 2485396, 18001807091, 103), Ramban (9419993745, 1800-180-7043), Udhampur (8491928625), Kishtwar (9906154100), Kargil (9541902330, 9541902331), and Ganderbal (9906668731).
