Traffic on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) was completely suspended on Sunday night after continuous landslides and shooting stones blocked both tubes of the highway between Karool Bridge and Chanderkote, officials said.According to traffic police, the twin tubes/ roads in the affected stretch were rendered unsafe due to heavy debris and falling stones, forcing authorities to halt vehicular movement from both the Jammu and Srinagar sides. Vehicles were stopped at safer locations to prevent any untoward incidents.
Traffic Control Units (TCUs) were immediately alerted, and heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) and light motor vehicles (LMVs) were advised not to ply until at least one tube is cleared.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic NHW, Raja Adil Hamid, said that clearance operations by the National Highways Authority began on Monday morning. However, intermittent shooting stones continued to hamper the work. Officials on the spot estimated that it may take at least 5 to 6 hours to make the down tube traffic-worthy, subject to improvement in conditions.
