Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remains closed on day 3, Chenani-Udhampur sector worst hit

Banihal, Aug 28: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed for the third straight day on Wednesday after several stretches of the road in Udhampur district were completely washed away in recent flash floods.

According to officials, the restoration may take several more days as damage is massive.

Although traffic between Nashri Tunnel and Banihal has been made possible in way, the four-lane highway between Jhakhani and Chenani in Udhampur has suffered massive damage.

The officials said continuous rainfall triggered landslides and flash floods, leading to the damage of  two and the swollen Tawi river washed away several hundred meters of the NH-44 between Bali Nallah, Samroli, and Deval bridge.

SSP traffic NHW Raja Adil Hameed is currently monitoring restoration work in Udhampur. He told Greater Kashmir that the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed heavy machinery and workforce at multiple damaged spots of highway. However, even temporary restoration may take several days.

“We are trying our best to ensure at least single lane traffic movement within the next two days so that stranded passengers and essential supplies can be allowed to move on,” he said.

He added that while local traffic is being managed between Nashri and Banihal sectors, no movement of vehicles is allowed from Nagrota Traffic check post towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, and Srinagar due to the severe damages to the highway.

The SSP traffic NHW appealed to the public to avoid traveling on the highway until restoration work is completed, saying unnecessary crowding hampers repair operations.