Banihal (Jammu), March 1: The crucial 270-kilometre Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been reopened for light motor vehicles following extensive restoration work, officials confirmed on Saturday. The highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, was shut down on Thursday evening due to heavy snowfall and multiple landslides in Ramban district.
Adverse weather conditions, including heavy rains, led to shooting stones, mudslides, and landslides at several locations such as Kishtwari Pather, Moum Passi, Hingni, Panthiyal, Mehar, and Dalwas. Additionally, snowfall between Qazigund and Ramsu made the road dangerously slippery.
A major challenge was the sinking of a portion of the road near Mehar and a landslide blocking one tube of the Kunfer-Peerah tunnel. Restoration work was delayed due to persistent rainfall on Friday but was expedited on Saturday morning after the weather improved.
Limited Traffic Allowed, Heavy Vehicles to Be Assessed
A traffic department spokesperson confirmed that passenger vehicles are now permitted to travel from Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa. However, authorities have urged commuters to follow lane discipline and refrain from overtaking to prevent congestion."Passengers should travel during daylight hours and avoid unnecessary halts between Ramban and Banihal, as there are still risks of landslides and shooting stones. Heavy motor vehicles will be allowed only after a thorough assessment of road conditions," the spokesperson stated.
Vulnerable Spots and Ongoing Repairs
Ramban Deputy Commissioner Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary highlighted that at least 16 locations along the 66-kilometre Banihal-Nashri stretch remain vulnerable due to recent rains."Most of the affected spots have been cleared, except Mehar, where road width has been reduced due to sinking. This remains a significant challenge and is expected to be fully addressed within the next two weeks," he said.
Senior police officials, including Ramban Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Singh and SSP (National Highway) Rohit Raskotra, conducted an on-ground review of these vulnerable locations.
Chaudhary assured that the landslide at Peerah would not obstruct traffic movement, as vehicles are being diverted through the other tunnel tube.
With all stranded vehicles cleared, authorities continue to monitor the situation and urge commuters to check for traffic advisories before embarking on their journeys.
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