SRINAGAR: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remained closed for traffic on Monday after fresh landslides and slippery road conditions at Dawal in Udhampur district rendered the route unsafe for vehicular movement, the Traffic Police said.
According to the Traffic Police Headquarters, traffic movement on NH-44 was severely affected due to the single-lane, undulating and uneven road surface at Dawal, where traffic is restricted to one-way movement between Marog and Kishtwari Pather. The situation was further aggravated by the breakdown of two vehicles at Marog and Nachlana on Sunday.
Officials said intermittent rain at several places along the highway is likely to trigger fresh landslides, making the road unsafe. Commuters have been advised to avoid travelling on the highway until it is declared safe for traffic. Those planning journeys on the route have also been asked to confirm the latest traffic status from the Traffic Control Units (TCUs) at Srinagar, Ramban and Jammu, or through the official J&K Traffic Police social media handles.
The Traffic Police said restoration work is still underway at the Dawal slide near Dawal Bridge in the Samroli area of Udhampur district. Continuous shooting stones, slush and slippery road conditions have delayed the restoration process. The decision on allowing traffic will be taken only after clearance from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and an assessment of the road by traffic authorities.
Meanwhile, subject to fair weather and improved road conditions, traffic authorities have issued regulated movement plans for several alternative roads.
On the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag National Highway (NH-244), light motor vehicles, including passenger cars and private vehicles, will be allowed from both Srinagar and Kishtwar between 8 am and 4 pm. Heavy motor vehicles will be permitted only from Daksum towards Kishtwar between 9 am and 4 pm, while no vehicle will be allowed after the notified cut-off timings.
Similarly, on the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) Road, LMVs will be allowed to move from Sonamarg towards Kargil and vice versa between 7 am and 1 pm. Heavy motor vehicles will be allowed only from Minamarg towards Srinagar between noon and 5 pm. Motorists have been advised to exercise caution due to the slippery road conditions.
Traffic movement has also been regulated on the Mughal Road. Subject to fair weather and clearance from the road maintenance agency, LMVs will be permitted from Shopian towards Poonch between 7 am and 6 pm, and from Poonch towards Shopian during the same period. Heavy motor vehicles will be allowed only from Chandimarh (Baffliaz) towards Shopian and from Herpora (Shopian) towards Poonch between 7 am and 6 pm. No vehicle will be allowed after the prescribed cut-off timings.
The Traffic Police have urged commuters to undertake journeys only after confirming the latest road status from the respective Traffic Control Units, warning that the weather situation remains unpredictable and traffic advisories may change accordingly.
