Jammu & Kashmir: Several major roads and national highways across Jammu and Kashmir were closed on Tuesday after continuous rainfall and fresh snowfall triggered landslides and stonefalls in multiple areas, severely disrupting vehicular movement and isolating parts of the region.
According to officials from the Traffic Police Department, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, a crucial 270-km lifeline that connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India, has been shut down due to multiple landslides and incidents of shooting stones, particularly along the Udhampur-Banihal stretch. Authorities halted traffic early Tuesday morning as a safety precaution.
In addition to the highway closure, Srinagar-Leh National Highway, along with the Mughal Road and Sinthan Top, were also rendered impassable following snow accumulation in higher reaches and rain-induced slides on steep stretches.
The abrupt change in weather in Jammu and Kashmir, which saw heavy rain lash the plains overnight and snow blanket the upper altitudes, has also caused temperatures to dip sharply. This has raised concerns about early onset of winter conditions and the possibility of extended disruptions in mountain travel routes.
Officials said clearance operations are underway, but continued precipitation is making the process difficult and dangerous. Restoration of traffic will depend on weather improvement and successful removal of debris from affected roadways.
Travelers have been advised to avoid planning journeys on these routes until further notice, as the conditions remain unstable. The weather department has forecast continued rain and snowfall in parts of the region over the next 24 hours, which may lead to further road closures or delays.
