J-K: Severe waterlogging, heavy rainfall damage Srinagar-Bandipora road
Bandipora, May 21
Heavy rainfall triggered severe waterlogging and caused extensive damage to the Srinagar-Bandipora road near Darul Uloom Rahimiya in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on Thursday, disrupting vehicular movement in the area.
The situation further worsened as rainwater and mud entered several residential houses in the vicinity, damaging household belongings and causing significant distress to local residents.
Authorities said restoration and relief measures are being assessed, while further details on the extent of damage are awaited. The area showed inundated stretches of road and waterlogged houses as continuous rainfall affected normal life in the region.
Meanwhile, traffic movement remained slow on the National Highway-44 (NH-44) between May 19 and May 20 at 4:00 pm due to multiple factors, according to officials.
Traffic authorities attributed the slow movement to single-lane road conditions between Marog and Kishtwari Pather, breakdown of three Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) between Ramban and Nachlana, and movement of at least 10 nomadic herds in the stretch, which further slowed vehicular flow.
In view of the prevailing conditions, Jammu and Kashmir traffic police issued advisories urging commuters to strictly follow lane discipline and avoid overtaking on the highway to prevent further congestion.
Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) operators and passengers have been advised to undertake travel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway only during daytime hours.
Authorities have also advised against night travel, citing risks of shooting stones, landslides, ongoing construction work between Ramban and Banihal, and continued movement of nomadic groups towards the valley, which could further endanger commuters.
"From 19-05-2026, 1600 hrs to 20-05-2026, 1600 hrs, slow traffic movement was observed on NH-44 due to single-lane conditions between Marog and Kishtwari Pather, in addition to the breakdown of 03 HMV between Ramban and Nachlana, and the movement of 10 nomadic herds (crossing Nachlana-Banihal). Owing to the ongoing movement of 04 nomadic herds, traffic on the single-lane stretch from Marog to Kishtwari Pather is likely to slow down. Commuters are advised to follow lane discipline and avoid overtaking.Passengers/LMV operators are advised to prefer the journey on the Jammu-Srinagar NHW during daytime. Night travel should be avoided due to the apprehension of shooting stones! landslides, movement of nomads towards the valley as well as ongoing construction work between Ramban and Banihal, which may cause inconvenience to commuters," said Jammu and Kashmir Traffic police advisory.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, I feel for the people whose houses got flooded. 😔 Kashmir already faces enough hardships with the weather and terrain, and then infrastructure failures add to it. The authorities should at least have proper drainage and early warning systems in place. And why are nomads being allowed to cross during monsoon season on busy highways? This needs better planning.
From an outsider's perspective, this seems like a cyclic problem that could be addressed with better engineering. Single-lane roads through mountain passes, herds of animals crossing highways, and poor drainage are known issues. Why isn't there a long-term solution? I hope the relief measures are swift for those affected. 🙏
This is exactly why we need more investment in climate-resilient infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir. The state gets heavy rainfall every year, and still we see the same waterlogging and road damage. NH-44 is India's lifeline to Kashmir - it should be built to handle this. And the nomadic herd movement issue is just poor coordination. Traffic police can't manage everything if the roads aren't upgraded.
My heart goes out to the families whose homes were damaged. 💔 Water entering houses is so traumatic, especially when you have children and elderly at home. I hope the district administration provides immediate relief - dry rations, tarpaulins, and compensation. Also, why can't the NHAI ensure better drainage on this stretch? It's the same complaint every monsoon season.
As a frequent traveler on both sides of the border, I've seen how infrastructure challenges affect daily
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