At least 1,700 trucks were stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway after a fresh landslide hit Udhampur early Monday, barely a day after traffic had resumed following a three-day closure.
The landslide occurred at Dewal in Udhampur district, leaving around 1,700 trucks and hundreds of passenger vehicles stranded. Traffic from both sides was suspended, with only stranded vehicles allowed to move after debris was cleared from a portion of the road.
In an afternoon advisory, the Traffic Police said around 1,700 trucks and numerous passenger vehicles stranded between Udhampur and Banihal were being cleared through a single carriageway while repair work on the damaged road surface was underway.
Priority, it said, was being given to passenger vehicles. “No fresh vehicles from Jammu towards Srinagar, Doda, Ramban, Patnitop or vice versa shall be allowed until restoration work is completed. Commuters are advised to avoid travelling as there is an apprehension of further landslides and shooting stones,” the advisory said.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 3,823 Amarnath pilgrims, travelling in a convoy of 140 vehicles to the Baltal base camp under tight security, was allowed to cross the affected stretch after authorities restored one-way traffic.
The highway had reopened on Sunday after remaining closed for three days due to multiple landslides and shooting stones triggered by heavy rainfall.
An NHAI official said teams equipped with men and machinery were immediately deployed after the fresh landslide. “Single-lane movement was restored in the morning, enabling the Amarnath Yatra convoy to pass safely. Clearance work continued through the day and by around 3 pm both lanes were made traffic-worthy,” the official said. However, both carriageways continued to be used only for clearing stranded vehicles, while fresh traffic from either side remained suspended.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre, Srinagar, has forecast light to moderate rain and thundershowers across most parts of Kashmir from July 28 to 31, with brief spells of intense showers in some districts.
For the Jammu division, the MeT has predicted widespread light to moderate rainfall, with heavy to torrential rain likely in a few districts and heavy to very heavy rainfall over Udhampur and adjoining areas. The peak weather activity is expected between July 30 and 31.