Jammu-Srinagar Highway Reopens After Nine-Day Flood Closure

The Jammu-Srinagar national highway, a critical all-weather route linking Kashmir to the rest of India, was reopened after nine days of closure caused by heavy rains, flash floods, and massive landslides, including a significant 550 x 300 metre landslide near Udhampur. Authorities worked continuously amidst challenging conditions to clear debris and restore traffic, aiming to also remove stranded vehicles carrying essential supplies to Kashmir Valley and surrounding districts. The prolonged closure disrupted daily life, halted the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage for over two weeks, and highlighted the vulnerability of regional infrastructure, with floods damaging nearly 12,000km of roads across Jammu and Kashmir. Other roads like the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag and Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri were also reopened, while the Mughal Road remained open throughout. Officials have urged travelers to carry photo ID and avoid non-essential trips until full restoration is achieved. The reopening marks a significant recovery effort to restore vital connectivity after the severe weather-related disruptions.