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Heavy Snowfall Closes Srinagar-Jammu Highway, Hundreds Stranded in Udhampur

Heavy snowfall near the Navyug Tunnel and continuous rainfall in Udhampur district have forced the closure of the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for vehicular traffic. The suspension has led to a major buildup of stranded vehicles, particularly at the Jakhani check post in Udhampur. Traffic officials have halted movement citing unsafe, slippery conditions and are urging the public to postpone travel. Concurrently, adverse weather has also led to the cancellation of several flights from Srinagar Airport.

Key Points: Srinagar-Jammu Highway Closed Due to Snowfall, Vehicles Stranded

  • Highway closed due to snowfall near Navyug Tunnel
  • Hundreds of vehicles stranded at Jakhani
  • Traffic police issue strict travel advisory
  • Multiple flights cancelled at Srinagar Airport
2 min read

J-K: Snowfall forces closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway, hundreds of vehicles stranded in Udhampur

Heavy snowfall near Navyug Tunnel forces closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, stranding hundreds of vehicles in Udhampur. Flight cancellations also reported.

"fresh snowfall and icy roads have made driving extremely risky on the stretch. - Traffic DTI Banihal Ajaz Mirza"

Udhampur, January 27

The strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been closed for vehicular traffic in both directions following heavy snowfall near the high-altitude Navyug Tunnel and continuous rainfall across Udhampur district, officials said on Tuesday. The suspension of traffic has left hundreds of vehicles stranded at multiple locations, with a major buildup reported at the Jakhani check naka in Udhampur.

Authorities said snowfall near the Navyug Tunnel and slippery road conditions in the Banihal sector made travel unsafe, forcing traffic officials to halt movement to prevent accidents and congestion. In addition to snowfall, persistent rainfall in the lower reaches of Udhampur further worsened driving conditions.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Udhampur, Pankaj Sudan, told ANI that Kashmir-bound vehicles are currently being restricted from moving beyond Jakhani due to the ongoing weather challenges in the Banihal sector. While the Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police are actively managing the ground situation, they have issued a strict advisory urging the general public to postpone their travel plans. Commuters are strongly encouraged to verify the current road conditions with official traffic control units before beginning their journey to avoid further inconvenience or getting caught in gridlock.

Meanwhile, heavy snowfall continued in Banihal, leading to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway due to slippery road conditions. Vehicular movement has been suspended around the Banihal-Qazigund Tunnel area as a safety measure.

Speaking to ANI, Traffic DTI Banihal Ajaz Mirza said, fresh snowfall and icy roads have made driving extremely risky on the stretch. Traffic police and concerned departments are deployed on the ground.

Further, heavy to moderate snowfall has once again been reported from the Gandoh-Bhalesa area of Doda district. The Meteorological Department has predicted further snowfall in the region till 29 January.

SDM Gandoh told ANI that in view of the prevailing weather conditions, the district administration has warned the public not to venture into hilly and high-altitude areas due to the risk of snow avalanches.

Meanwhile, Srinagar Airport on Tuesday issued a statement for several flight cancellations in view of the unfavourable weather conditions and prevailing operational constraints. Among them, 6 Indigo, 2 Air Akasa, and 3 Air India Express flights had been cancelled till 9 AM.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Stay safe, everyone! It's better to be stranded than to risk an accident on those icy roads. Kudos to the traffic police and ground staff working in such harsh conditions. Hope they get the stranded people some basic amenities soon.
A
Arjun K
The Met department predicted this. Why weren't more advisories issued earlier? So many people, including tourists, get caught off guard. The administration should use SMS alerts more proactively for such critical routes.
P
Priyanka N
My heart goes out to the truck drivers stranded there. They are the ones who suffer the most, away from home. Hope the langar services and local NGOs reach them with food and blankets. Jai Hind.
M
Michael C
Visiting from the US and was planning a trip to Srinagar next week. This is a sobering reminder of nature's power. Will definitely check with traffic control before we head out. Respect to the locals who deal with this annually.
K
Kavya N
While safety is paramount, I respectfully think the communication can be better. One official says vehicles stopped at Jakhani, another talks about Banihal-Qazigund. A single, clear, real-time portal for highway status would help thousands.
V
Varun X
This is why the Atal Tunnel was

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