Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, July 30

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway will be closed to all traffic on Friday to allow authorities to carry out restoration and safety work on sections damaged by recent heavy rainfall, officials said.

The closure will cover the stretch between Jakheni in Udhampur district and the Banihal-Qazigund tunnel, with no vehicles allowed to move through the affected section during the work.

The National Highways Authority of India has been authorised to widen the hillside carriageway at Ladha and Samroli and remove loose debris hanging above the road at Gangroo and Kishtwari Pather on the Udhampur-Banihal section.

Traffic police said vehicles travelling from Jammu towards Srinagar, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar and other destinations would not be allowed to proceed beyond Nagrota after 10 p.m. on Thursday. Traffic from Qazigund towards Ramban, Udhampur and Jammu would also be stopped after the same deadline.

Officials said the closure was necessary after heavy monsoon rainfall weakened several sections of the highway and increased the risk of landslides, mudslides and falling rocks.

The highway has faced repeated disruptions since July 18, particularly along the Dewal-Samroli stretch in Udhampur and near Gangroo in Ramban district.

Restoration teams have been clearing debris and stabilising slopes, but intermittent rainfall has slowed the work.

Authorities have advised travellers and transporters to postpone journeys and wait for fresh traffic advisories before using the highway.