600 vehicles stranded; Railways run 2 special trains
Jammu Tawi: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was closed for traffic for the third consecutive day on Thursday due to multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains in the Udhampur-Ramban belt, officials said.
Due to the closure of the highway, over 500 to 600 vehicles are stranded at various places en route.
The 270-km-long stretch, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was blocked by multiple landslides at several places between Jakheni and Chenani in Udhampur, they said.
“Highway is closed for vehicular movement from Jakheni in Udhampur towards Srinagar due to damage at several places between Jakheni and Chenani. No vehicular movement shall be allowed from Nagrota in Jammu towards Reasi, Chenani, Patnitop, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, Srinagar,” a traffic police official said.
He said commuters belonging to Katra and Udhampur towns are requested to keep their photo ID cards to prove their identity so that their movement can be facilitated smoothly.
The men and machines of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are working to clear the highway of blockades, which occurred on Tuesday following heavy rains and flash floods, they said.
According to the traffic advisory, the Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag highway is closed for vehicular movement.
It said subject to fair weather and good road condition, and after getting a green signal from the BRO, traffic movement shall be allowed in a regulated manner on the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari road.
LMVs followed by HMVs shall be allowed from Sonamarg towards Kargil between 1130 hours and 1730 hours.
“No vehicle shall be allowed after the cut-off timing. Security forces convoys plying from Srinagar to Kargil and vice versa shall plan their movement in such a manner so that civil traffic is not disturbed,” the advisory said.
According to the advisory, movement of LMVs shall be allowed on Mughal Road between Shopian district of Kashmir and Poonch district of Jammu region, subject to fair weather and good road condition, after getting a green signal from road maintenance agencies.
“LMVs and private cars shall be allowed from both sides on Mughal Road, i.e., from Jammu towards Srinagar and vice versa via Poonch. These vehicles shall be allowed from Behramgala in Poonch and Herpora in Shopian between 0700 hours and 1800 hours,” it said.
Meanwhile, Railway authorities operated two special trains to ensure smooth travel for stranded tourists from Jammu Railway Station to other parts of the country. An official said that a special train to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers from Jammu to Delhi was arranged today at 2 PM.
He said that another reserved/unreserved mix special train was also arranged from Jammu to Banaras via Ludhiana, Ambala, Saharanpur, Moradabad and Lucknow at 3 PM today.
Doda remains cut off amid devastating floods
Rains, cloudbursts wreak havoc, disrupt basic services
Jammu, Aug 28: Continuous rains and flash floods have devastated Doda district, leaving it territorially and digitally cut off from the rest of the country. After six straight days of severe weather, conditions improved on Thursday, but the destruction caused by storms, cloudbursts, and landslides has left the region struggling to recover.
Several lives have been lost while dozens of residential houses have either collapsed or suffered extensive damage. In Chiralla, multiple houses caved in, while in Amritpura Chanyas, heavy floods destroyed homes and inundated residences. In one tragic incident, a woman and her 15-year-old daughter were trapped under debris after their house collapsed but were later rescued by locals.
Fearing further risks, many residents evacuated their homes, while the administration shifted some affected families to the Doda community hall, where basic arrangements have been made.
Infrastructure damage has been massive, with key roads such as Thathi Janglowal, Palra Kat, Asar Goha, Marmat, Kasti Garh, Bagwa Desa, and Ganna Ladna either washed away or badly damaged. Dozens of wooden bridges, vital for rural connectivity, have also been swept away, cutting off several villages.
Flood risks remain high in areas including Badrawa, Niro Nala, Thanala Nala, Goha, Khelini Nala, Gandna Latna, and Pahwa. Landslides continue in Kalah, Haneel, Gandna, and Ban Gam, worsening the situation. Orchards, crops, and agricultural fields have also suffered widespread damage.
Essential services are in disarray. Water pipelines managed by the PSP department have been badly damaged, forcing residents to fetch water from distant sources. Electricity supply has been severely disrupted for the past three days, with broken lines leaving large parts of the district in darkness. Locals also complained that minor rainfall regularly triggers power outages, while repair work remains sluggish.
Doda’s communication network has also collapsed. Underground cables have been damaged, crippling phone and internet services for the past four days and further isolating the district.
Jammu division schools to remain shut till Aug 30
Kashmir schools reopen today
Jammu, Aug 28: The Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) has ordered that all government and private schools across the Jammu division shall remain closed till August 30, 2025, in view of continuous heavy rainfall and weather-related disruptions.
The order states that several districts have reported severe waterlogging, accumulation of mud in school premises, flooding in low-lying areas, and damage to road infrastructure, making access to schools unsafe. “Heightened risk of landslides, mudslides and shooting stones in hilly and mountainous regions poses serious threats to the safety of students and staff,” the DSEJ said.
It further added that numerous representations from parents, civil society members, and other stakeholders urged authorities to continue the closure in the interest of student safety.
DSEJ has directed Heads of Institutions (HoIs) to explore the possibility of online classes for students of Classes 9 to 12, wherever internet facilities permit. All Chief Education Officers (CEOs) and HoIs have also been instructed to strictly follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for safe reopening once conditions improve, and to ensure proper sanitation, cleaning, and safety inspections before resuming physical classes. The directorate said the situation is being monitored closely and further instructions will be issued depending on weather and ground conditions.
Meanwhile, in the Kashmir division, schools are set to reopen on Friday after remaining closed for the past two days. A senior official from the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) confirmed that all schools across the division will resume normal functioning from tomorrow.
