Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, July 6

The Batote-Kishtwar National Highway (NH-244) was reopened for one-way traffic on Monday evening after authorities cleared debris left by flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rainfall, restoring a crucial road link to Kishtwar district, officials said.

The highway remained closed for several hours after a flash flood struck near Prem Nagar between Doda and Kishtwar early on Monday, burying sections of the road under mud, rocks and debris and bringing traffic to a standstill.

Officials said several vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks and two-wheelers, were stranded after the highway became impassable, disrupting movement between Kishtwar, Batote, Jammu and other parts of the Jammu region.

No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident, they said.

District authorities, the Traffic Police, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), highway officials and local residents launched a joint rescue and restoration operation shortly after the flash flood, deploying heavy earthmoving equipment to clear debris, rescue stranded commuters and restore road connectivity.

Following hours of clearance work, officials reopened the highway for one-way traffic, easing the movement of commuters and essential supplies. However, they said restoration work was continuing as damaged vehicles buried under debris were yet to be recovered and vulnerable stretches required further stabilisation.

Authorities urged motorists to drive cautiously and adhere to traffic advisories, warning that intermittent disruptions could continue if rainfall persisted in the region.

The reopening is expected to provide relief as traffic volume on NH-244 has increased significantly due to the ongoing Machail Yatra, an annual pilgrimage to the Machail Mata shrine in the remote Paddar region of Kishtwar district.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall also triggered a major landslide near the under-construction 540-MW Kwar Hydroelectric Power Project in Kishtwar district, causing extensive damage to infrastructure at the project site, officials said.

The landslide struck the project’s approach road, burying several trucks, tankers and pieces of heavy machinery under mud and rocks, disrupting access to the strategically important hydropower project.

The Kwar project, being developed by Chenab Valley Power Projects Ltd (CVPPL) on the Chenab River, is located about 28 km from Kishtwar town and forms part of a series of hydroelectric projects planned in the Chenab basin.

Project authorities, assisted by the district administration, have launched restoration operations to clear debris, recover trapped vehicles and restore access to the construction site.

Officials said no casualties were reported in the landslide and an assessment of damage to infrastructure and equipment was underway.

The administration has advised residents in vulnerable areas and commuters travelling through the Chenab Valley to remain vigilant as intermittent rainfall is forecast to continue, increasing the risk of fresh landslides and flash floods.