Srinagar-Jammu National Highway Partially Reopens for Stranded Vehicles, Fresh Traffic Still Suspended
The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was partially reopened on Sunday afternoon to allow the movement of stranded vehicles after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) completed restoration work at the Dewal-Samroli stretch in Udhampur district and the Gangroo area in Ramsu, Ramban district. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Officials said the highway was opened on a priority basis for stranded Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles from both the Udhampur and Banihal sides after the scheduled Amarnath Yatra convoy safely crossed the Udhampur-Banihal sector on Sunday morning.
📍 Highway Status at a Glance
Srinagar-Jammu National Highway
✅ Stranded LMVs allowed
✅ Stranded heavy vehicles allowed
✅ Amarnath Yatra convoy crossed safely
❌ Fresh traffic not allowed
❌ Debris clearance still underway
⚠ Risk of fresh landslides and shooting stonesFresh Traffic Still Not Permitted
Authorities clarified that the highway has not yet been reopened for fresh vehicular traffic.
Debris clearance operations are continuing at Gangroo, where a major landslide on Saturday evening blocked both road tunnels and brought traffic to a complete halt.
Officials urged commuters to avoid travelling on the highway until it is declared fully safe.
“There is an apprehension of fresh landslides and shooting stones due to unstable slopes,” officials said.
Traffic Police Issue Advisory
The Traffic Police appealed to the public not to rely on rumours regarding the highway’s status.
Commuters have been advised to follow only official traffic updates issued through:
- Traffic Police X (formerly Twitter) account
- Official Facebook page
- Traffic Control Units (TCUs)
Heavy Rain Triggered Fresh Landslide
The latest disruption occurred on Saturday evening, when heavy rainfall triggered a massive landslide at Gangroo in the Ramsu sector of Ramban district.
The highway had only reopened a day earlier after remaining closed for three days because of continuous monsoon rains.
Although the Amarnath Yatra convoy and regulated traffic passed safely earlier on Saturday, fresh rainfall later caused:
- Shooting stones at several vulnerable locations.
- Waterlogging at the Dewal-Samroli stretch.
- A major landslide that completely blocked the highway.
📊 Restoration Work Underway
| Location | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Gangroo (Ramsu, Ramban) | Debris clearance in progress |
| Dewal-Samroli (Udhampur) | Restoration completed |
| Stranded Vehicles | Being allowed under regulation |
| Fresh Traffic | Still suspended |
NHAI Deploys Heavy Machinery
Immediately after the landslide, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) deployed heavy earth-moving equipment and additional manpower to clear debris from the affected areas.
Restoration teams also carried out simultaneous operations at other vulnerable locations, including the Dewal-Samroli stretch, removing mud, boulders and slush to restore connectivity.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), National Highway, Raja Adil Hameed, supervised traffic regulation and coordinated restoration efforts alongside NHAI and other agencies.
Officials said machinery and emergency response teams have been stationed at vulnerable locations across the Udhampur-Banihal corridor to respond quickly to any further weather-related incidents.
More Rain Forecast
Authorities attributed the repeated highway disruptions to continuous monsoon activity, which has caused landslides, mudslides, shooting stones and waterlogging across Ramban, Udhampur and nearby districts over the past several days.
With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting more rainfall in the coming days, officials warned that fresh landslides and shooting stones remain possible.
Travellers have been advised to check the latest traffic advisories issued by the Traffic Police before planning any journey on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
