Landslide Blocks NH-44 at Udhampur’s Dewal, Restoration Work Underway

JAMMU, Jul 27: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), the vital all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was blocked on Monday after a landslide struck the Dewal area of Udhampur district, disrupting vehicular movement. Officials said the landslide brought a large volume of debris onto the highway, forcing the suspension of traffic. Road clearance teams, supported by heavy machinery, were immediately pressed into service to remove the debris and restore connectivity at the earliest. Authorities have urged commuters to avoid travelling on NH-44 until the road is declared safe, warning that the affected stretch remains prone to fresh landslides and shooting stones due to unstable weather and fragile terrain. The Traffic Police have also appealed to the public not to rely on rumours or unverified reports regarding the highway’s status. Travellers have been advised to check real-time road updates through the official J&K Traffic Police social media platforms or contact the Traffic Control Units at Srinagar, Ramban and Jammu before planning their journey. Officials said traffic will be resumed only after the highway is fully cleared and certified safe for vehicular movement. Restoration work is continuing, and further updates are expected once road clearance operations are completed.