Jammu, September 4, 2025 : The Kashmir Valley remained cut off from the rest of the country on Thursday as all major surface links, including the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), were closed due to multiple landslides, mudslides, and road washouts triggered by incessant rains.
The ongoing closure, in effect since August 26, has stranded over 3,500 vehicles at various points from Kathua to Kashmir. While a brief partial reopening on Monday allowed limited vehicle movement, the highway was closed again following renewed rainfall.
Traffic authorities confirmed that the Jammu-Srinagar highway, Mughal Road, and Sinthan-Anantnag road are currently closed. In addition, critical highways such as the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch highway and Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway remain shut due to landslides and damaged road surfaces.
“Jammu-Srinagar is closed from Jakhani in Udhampur to Srinagar and vice versa due to multiple damaged stretches. No vehicular movement will be allowed from Nagrota (Jammu) towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, Srinagar, and back,” a traffic police official said. Authorities have advised commuters from Katra and Udhampur to carry photo IDs for verification in case of emergency movement.
Restoration work is ongoing on a war footing, particularly in the Udhampur-Ramban-Banihal section, where retaining walls and road stretches have been washed away. Landslides have blocked areas including Shalgadi, Nachilana, Panthyal, Maroog, and Peerah, with one landslide partially entering a tube of the Peerah tunnel.
In the Udhampur sector, about 10 km of road between Jakhani, Thara D, Balli Nallah, and Dewal has been affected. The Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch highway remains closed at Chowki Choura near Kandi tunnel, leaving over 400 vehicles stranded, while the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar highway has been blocked due to landslides in Pul Doda, stranding more than 200 vehicles.
Other major links, including the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag highway and Mughal Road, are also closed, limiting connectivity to air travel from Srinagar airport and the railway network from Katra to Srinagar. Road transport, which serves as the main lifeline for essential supplies, passenger movement, and trade, remains severely disrupted.
Several inter-district roads in Kathua, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Reasi are also closed due to landslides and falling boulders, further isolating remote areas. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and are working to restore connectivity as quickly as possible.
