People walked through the rocks on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on the street after a cloud explosion near Ramban, about 147 kilometers away from Srinagar. |Photo source: Imran Nissar
Jamu and Kashmir’s Ramba district provided horrible images of nature’s anger on Monday (21 April 2025). Due to cold weather conditions and ongoing debris in passenger cars, the stranded trucks are carried with food, including poultry and vegetables, and commuter items are secured under debris for more than 12 hours.
Authorities launched a large-scale drill, urgently conducting service personnel and machinery to restore the critical Srinagar-Jammu highway, which suffered major damage on Sunday following the last three days of cloud explosions, landslides and flash floods.
“Our team is active everywhere in Ramban. We are trying to restore traffic to vehicles carrying essentials at least all the way. We hope to restore it on Tuesday night. However, official sources said it will take many days to fully restore traffic on the highway.
The worst affected areas are still the Marrog, Kela Morh and Trishul Morh in Ramban. “In the past 24 hours, over 500 chickens have died in my truck. I threw them on the side of the road to ensure that others survive.”
Vehicles under debris
Authorities pulled several vehicles out of the debris. More than 140 stranded vehicles were allowed to move to safer locations, officials said. “Several vehicles also rolled along the road into the canyon and remained untracked,” said another driver, Fida Ahmad.
About 10 to 12 villages, including Seri, Bagna, Panote and Khari, have suffered varying degrees of damage in the wrath of nature, officials said. “I interacted with affected families and gave first-hand instructions on the ongoing rescue, relief and recovery operations,” said Department Specialist Jamu.
He said the departments were directed to speed up the recovery of water, power supplies and other utilities. “The team has been fully evaluated to ensure that real losses are recorded and calculated and compensated accordingly,” Kumar said.
The long groom
Meanwhile, a groom, Nazi Ahmad, had to walk with his wife for more than eight hours to reach Khari Tehsil in Ramban. “We arrived at the bride’s home on Sunday. We decided to walk to the Lanmen Trail due to the landslide,” Ahmed said.
The Srinagar-Jammu Expressway is the main expressway connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country. The valley gets its essentials from the highway. Kashmir Division Commissioner VK Bidhuri said: “We have 17 days of stock.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also visited the Ramban district on Sunday evening to assess the situation. “We have to resume traffic because several vehicles are still buried under debris. We have to re-adjust the highway. It will take about three days to restore traffic on the highway. The government is evaluating the losses and relief. The government is working on the pace of war to ensure that the highway is reopened as early as possible.”
Chief Minister said: “The scale of the destruction is painful. Our government is on the ground and is working tirelessly to ensure the safety, relief and rehabilitation of every affected family.”
He added: “In this difficult time, we will not succumb to our people.”
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti said Ramban saw the cutting of trees and the mountains. Ms Mufti said: “The crops are also damaged and farmers need compensation.”
Meanwhile, authorities reopened the Mughal roads to allow smaller vehicles to travel to the Chamu area. In another incident, the landslide also closed Srinagar-Kargil Road near Zojila stream.
publishing – April 21, 2025 at 10:59 pm IST
