Udhampur (J&K) India: A massive landslide on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) near Dharmthal in the Chenani area of Udhampur district severely disrupted traffic on Sunday.
Large quantities of soil, rocks and boulders suddenly fell onto the highway, completely blocking the up-tube, which carries traffic towards Srinagar. The disruption caused inconvenience to commuters travelling from Jammu towards the Kashmir Valley.
Following the incident, the Traffic Department diverted vehicles to the down-tube. At present, traffic in both directions is being regulated through the single tube, which is likely to result in slower movement, particularly for heavy vehicles.
Meanwhile, the administration and road restoration agencies have launched immediate clearance operations. Heavy machinery has been deployed at the site to remove the accumulated soil, rocks and boulders and restore traffic through the blocked tube at the earliest.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is a vital link between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley, and any disruption on the highway affects thousands of commuters as well as the movement of freight vehicles.
Traffic personnel are regulating vehicle movement to prevent congestion. Commuters have been advised to follow the instructions of traffic authorities and exercise caution while travelling through the diverted route until the affected stretch is cleared and declared safe.
