Jammu, September 8, 2025 : The restoration of a critical 250-meter stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, blocked for over a week due to torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides, has now entered its final phase, officials announced on Monday. This highway serves as the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, making its reopening a vital priority.
The highway was initially blocked on August 26, and despite a brief reopening for a few hours on August 30, it has remained shut for 13 days. The Thard stretch in Udhampur proved particularly challenging, as a major portion of the highway had been washed away, requiring complete reconstruction efforts.
A senior official from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) stated, “The restoration of the washed-out Thard stretch is in its final phase. This section is difficult because the highway had to be rebuilt almost from scratch.”
Progress has been steady. Six large rocks obstructing the highway were blasted and removed, and three additional rocks were excavated to aid in further clearance operations. Officials expect the highway to reopen for traffic by Monday night, as work advances rapidly despite intermittent rainfall hampering operations.
While most of the landslides, mudslides, and debris in Ramban and Udhampur districts have been cleared, the Thard area remains particularly challenging, buried under debris from a collapsed hill. The total 270-kilometre-long highway has been closed for the seventh consecutive day between Jakheni (Udhampur) and Srinagar, with no vehicular movement allowed from Nagrota (Jammu) towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, Srinagar, and vice versa, as per a traffic advisory.
Commuters heading to Katra and Udhampur towns are advised to carry photo ID cards for identity verification to facilitate smoother movement at checkpoints.
The highway closure has led to significant disruptions, leaving over 4,000 vehicles stranded at multiple locations, including Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, Kashmir Valley, and Punjab. Inter-district roads, notably the Katra-Reasi road, remain closed, adding to the transport bottleneck.
In the interim, the Indian Army and local communities have been providing rations and food to stranded travellers, predominantly truckers, across affected districts to sustain them during the extended disruption.
Furthermore, the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, a major religious journey atop the Trikuta Hills, continues to remain suspended for the 14th consecutive day due to the disrupted road connectivity.
Authorities remain committed to clearing the remaining obstructions and restoring normalcy, emphasizing that the safety of commuters and structural integrity of the highway will be ensured before reopening.
