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Jammu-Srinagar Highway Closed for 3rd Day as Snowfall Paralyzes Life

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remains closed for a third consecutive day following heavy snowfall, stranding hundreds of vehicles. Restoration and road-clearing operations are underway on key routes, with temporary passages being created for essential services like ambulances. The snowfall has paralyzed life in popular hill resorts, disrupting power, water, and telecommunications while forcing market closures. District administrations have been reportedly caught unprepared, with insufficient machinery and staff to manage the crisis.

Key Points: NH-44 Closed for 3 Days After Heavy Snowfall in Jammu & Kashmir

  • NH-44 closed for third day
  • Hundreds of vehicles stranded
  • Tourists allowed after checks
  • Power and water supplies disrupted
  • Administration caught unprepared
2 min read

J-K: Restoration work underway as NH-44 remains closed on third day

Restoration work continues as heavy snowfall blocks NH-44, stranding vehicles and disrupting life in Jammu's hill resorts for a third consecutive day.

"The National Highway has been closed since last night due to snowfall. - Vinay Gupta"

Jammu, January 25

Restoration work is underway on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and other key roads, which remained closed for the third consecutive day on Sunday following snowfall, officials said.

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded at Jakhani in Udhampur on Saturday, an official said.

District Traffic Inspector (DTI) Udhampur, Vinay Gupta, told ANI a day earlier, "The National Highway has been closed since last night due to snowfall. The road has been temporarily opened for tourists heading to Patnitop. We are checking their hotel bookings and IDs before allowing them to proceed to Patnitop".

"The road to Srinagar is still closed. The Doda-Kishtwar road is also closed; restoration work is underway there," he added.

Engineering Officer at the PWD Mechanical Wing, Hidayatullah Zargar, said that massive road-clearing operations are underway

"Machinery is deployed everywhere in Doda...In Bhadra, we have created a temporary road for the ambulance while we clear the other roads... We face the most difficulty in Bhadra, especially in the congested areas. In Bhadra, we have created a single lane for now," he said.

The incessant snowfall for the second consecutive night in the famous hill resorts of Jammu province - Patnitop, Nathatop, Sanasar & Batote, besides Banihal, Gool and other reaches - has paralysed life in these areas.

Because of the blockage of all paths, NH44 and NH244, and the deserted markets, elusive customers compelled some shopkeepers to keep their shops closed for the second consecutive day in Batote market of Ramban district.

The tourists, especially the snow buffs who couldn't reach Patnitop due to road blockages, were seen enjoying the snow, and their children were playing snow games.

The delight of long-awaited snowfall has also brought disruption to power and water supplies, as well as surface (traffic) and telecommunications.

The Ramban district administration was caught unprepared to face this unexpected heavy snowfall, as the road-clearing machines and the staff of Jammu Power Development Corporation Ltd (JPDCL) and Jal Shakti Vibhag were found to be insufficient.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Kudos to the PWD and other teams working in such difficult conditions in Bhadra and Doda. Clearing snow in congested areas is no joke. Stay safe, everyone! 🙏 Hope power and water supply is restored soon for the residents.
A
Aman W
My cousin is stuck near Patnitop. They said the officials are checking hotel bookings before allowing movement, which is good for safety. But three days is a long time. Hope the highway opens fully tomorrow.
S
Sarah B
Visiting from Canada and was in Batote last week. The scenery is breathtaking after snow, but I feel for the local shopkeepers. Markets deserted for days means huge losses for small businesses. The disruption is real.
V
Vikram M
At least they created a temporary lane for ambulances. That's crucial. People's lives depend on it. The article says the district admin was "caught unprepared"—this needs to be addressed before next winter. Proper machinery and staff allocation is a must.
K
Kriti O
The children playing in the snow is the only silver lining here! ❄️ For them, it's a holiday. But for their parents, it must be worrying with supplies running low. Hope restoration work finishes quickly.

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