Landslide Disrupts Jammu-Srinagar Highway; Bridge in Doda Temporarily Closed

Traffic Disruption Due to Landslide

On July 27, a landslide in Udhampur district caused a blockage on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Meanwhile, a bridge in Doda district was temporarily closed for safety inspections after cracks were reported. Officials provided this update.

A traffic department representative stated that the landslide occurred early Monday morning in Deval, Udhampur, depositing debris across the highway and halting vehicle movement in both directions.

Efforts to Restore Traffic

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated efforts to clear the debris and restore traffic as quickly as possible. A spokesperson advised travelers to avoid using the highway until it is declared safe and reopened, citing ongoing risks of landslides and falling rocks.

Authorities also urged the public to disregard rumors and rely solely on information released by official traffic police social media accounts regarding road conditions.

Amarnath Pilgrims Allowed to Pass

Despite the disruptions, officials permitted a new group of Amarnath pilgrims to traverse the affected area after restoring one lane of traffic under strict security measures. They indicated that normal traffic flow is expected to resume once the second lane is operational within a few hours.

Bridge Safety Inspections in Doda

In Doda, the bridge was closed late Sunday night due to safety concerns after cracks were observed. Anil Mehra, the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD), reported that inspections revealed these marks are not structural cracks but rather due to concrete overlapping at shuttering joints during construction.

He noted, 'Following the recent heavy rains, there were concerns about potential cracks in the bridge. As a precautionary measure, we closed it to vehicle traffic overnight.'

After a detailed inspection on Monday morning, initial assessments indicated that these are not structural issues. A team of experts has been called in for an independent evaluation and quality check to ensure there are no structural defects. Once the bridge is certified safe, it will be reopened for vehicular traffic.