Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 28

A major mudslide triggered by heavy rainfall blocked the strategic Mughal Road in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday evening, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway and disrupting traffic on one of the region’s key alternative links between Kashmir and the Jammu division, officials and stranded commuters said.

The landslide occurred following heavy rain along the mountainous route connecting Shopian district in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region, forcing authorities to suspend traffic as debris covered sections of the road.

Officials said road clearance operations had not been completed by late Sunday, with hundreds of passengers, including families and tourists, remaining stranded as earthmoving machinery worked to restore connectivity.

“We can confirm that a mudslide has occurred and traffic has been suspended,” an official in the Poonch district administration said. “The incident is on the Shopian side of the road, and further details will be available after assessment by the concerned authorities.”

Authorities did not immediately report any casualties or injuries.

Among those stranded was People’s Democratic Party (PDP) spokesperson Tazeem Dar, who said he was travelling from Shopian to Rajouri when the road was hit by the mudslide.

“We were travelling towards Rajouri when heavy rainfall started, and a huge mudslide blocked the road,” Dar told Reuters by telephone. “Hundreds of vehicles are stranded on both sides, and many people have been waiting for hours.”

Several stranded commuters appealed on social media for immediate assistance and restoration of the highway, with some reporting long queues of vehicles stretching along both approaches to the affected section.

The Mughal Road, which traverses the Pir Panjal mountain range, serves as an important seasonal alternative to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and provides a shorter road link between the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and the Kashmir Valley.

The highway remains particularly vulnerable to landslides, mudslides and shooting stones during periods of intense rainfall because of its steep terrain and unstable mountain slopes.

The disruption comes as meteorologists have forecast a fresh spell of rain and thunderstorms across Jammu and Kashmir in the coming days as a western disturbance interacts with advancing monsoon currents, increasing the risk of localised flash floods, landslides and road blockages in hilly areas.

Disruptions along mountain highways are common during the monsoon season, often affecting the movement of passengers and essential supplies and underscoring the logistical challenges posed by the Himalayan region’s rugged terrain and rapidly changing weather.

Road restoration work was continuing late into the evening, while authorities advised travellers to avoid unnecessary movement on the route until traffic was restored and weather conditions improved.