Jammu-Srinagar highway may reopen in 5-6 days: NHAI

Banihal, April 21: Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Monday, after flash floods triggered massive landslides in the Ramban sector, washing away several portions of the road.

Authorities now estimate that it may take five to six more days to fully restore the crucial highway, which serves as Kashmir’s primary road link with the rest of the country.

Project Director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Parshutam Kumar, told Greater Kashmir that efforts are underway to clear thousands of tons of debris at over a dozen locations in Ramban district.

“Due to the heavy volume of landslide debris, full restoration of the highway is likely to take another five to six days,” Kumar said. He added that machinery belonging to the NHAI was buried under mud and debris between Ramban and Maroog, and fresh arrangements have been made to resume the restoration work.

Kumar urged travelers to stay updated with traffic advisories before planning any movement on the highway.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Ramban Baseer ul Haq Choudhury, along with SSP Ramban Kulbir Singh and SSP Traffic NH Raja Adil Hamid, visited several affected sites to monitor the ongoing restoration efforts.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is also expected to visit Ramban later today, where three people lost their lives and hundreds were rescued after heavy rains and flash floods.