Ramban floods block Kashmir road leaving people stranded and supplies delayed

The Kashmir Valley remains physically isolated from the rest of the country for a second day after flash floods and landslides triggered by relentless rainfall wreaked havoc along the critical Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

The 250-kilometre NH-44, the only all-weather surface link between the valley and mainland India, has been rendered inoperable following widespread damage across multiple locations in the Ramban district, cutting off essential supplies and marooning travellers amid fears of further disruptions. Cloudbursts during the intervening night of April 19 and 20 caused cascading damage across key transit zones such as Kelamorh and Seri, where tons of debris and rocks descended onto the arterial road. The incident left hundreds of vehicles stranded and has resulted in at least three reported fatalities, with additional casualties in neighbouring Reasi due to lightning strikes. As a precaution, authorities have suspended traffic movement along the NH-44, citing unworkable road conditions and ongoing restoration efforts that have faced continual setbacks due to persistent rain and unstable terrain.

Despite the mobilisation of state agencies, civil volunteers, and army personnel, the sheer scale of destruction has severely hampered the pace of relief and restoration. Restoration teams from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and district administration are operating on a war footing, but until the mountainous debris is cleared and surface stability is ensured, the critical route is expected to remain inaccessible. According to the latest advisory issued by the J&K Traffic Department, vehicular movement on the NH-44 remains suspended and commuters are advised against any travel attempts until further notice.

Meanwhile, the Mughal Road, often considered a supplementary road link, is being cautiously operated with unidirectional movement permitted only for light motor vehicles between Shopian and Poonch, and strictly subject to favourable weather. The third alternate route via Sinthan Pass remains closed due to recent snowfall, exacerbating the valley’s isolation. This closure of all three major routes has led to a dramatic spike in airfares between Jammu and Srinagar, with one-way ticket prices surging beyond ₹20,000 on Monday, underscoring the lack of a resilient, diversified mobility network for the region.

The immediate focus, according to senior district officials, is on life safety and securing impacted populations, with relief camps set up and continuous monitoring underway. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police units, army teams, and local NGOs have been actively engaged in search and rescue operations. Multiple houses and shops in Ramban and adjacent villages like Dharamkund have reported damage, forcing several families to flee to higher ground in the dead of night as water and mudslides breached their homes. Authorities have declared a temporary shutdown of all educational institutions in Ramban and across the Kashmir Valley as a precaution.

This calamity once again lays bare the fragility of mountain infrastructure in the face of changing climate patterns and increased rainfall variability. As India grapples with the impacts of extreme weather events, the urgent need for sustainable, climate-resilient infrastructure in vulnerable regions like Jammu and Kashmir becomes increasingly clear. The present crisis also brings to fore the essentiality of decentralised connectivity and disaster-preparedness in frontier states.

While relief operations are ongoing and the administration has assured full support to affected families, the road to full recovery will demand more than just short-term repairs. The longer-term imperative lies in reimagining infrastructure that can withstand nature’s fury — not only to keep regions like Kashmir connected but to ensure their sustainable inclusion in India’s growth story.

Ramban floods block Kashmir road leaving people stranded and supplies delayed