Heavy rains ravage NH-44, restoration stalled between Udhampur, Banihal

Banihal, Sep 3: Continuous rains have severely damaged the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) between Udhampur and Banihal, washing away temporary repairs and halting restoration work until weather conditions improve, officials said.

Authorities said that all temporary restoration work carried out in Udhampur has been completely washed away, and fresh work can only begin once the weather clears.

SSP Traffic National Highway, Raja Adil Hameed, told Greater Kashmir that more than a dozen locations between Ramban and Banihal have been hit by landslides and shooting stones, making it impossible to restore even local traffic under continuous downpours.

He said that the highway in Tharad and Balli Nallah of the Udhampur sector and the temporary stretches created earlier have been completely destroyed, while a large hill in the Tharad area was sliding rapidly, sinking the highway with it. “NHAI machinery and manpower are on standby at all affected sites, but work will have to start from zero once rains stop completely, as earlier restoration has been completely wiped out by heavy rains and landslides,” he added.

The most affected areas include Shalgadi, Nachilana, Panthyal, Maroog and Peerah in Ramban–Banihal, where retaining walls and stretches of road have been washed away, and a heavy landslide has even entered one tube of the Peerah tunnel. In the Udhampur sector, around 10 km of road between Jhakhani, Thara D, Balli Nallah, Dewal Bridge and Samroli has got damaged, further worsening the situation.