The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), a critical lifeline that connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India, has once again been severely impacted by heavy rainfall, landslides, and flash floods. The 250-kilometre stretch, which plays a vital role in the supply of essential goods, passenger transport, and military logistics, has been reduced to partial connectivity following extensive damage across multiple sections.

Damage in Udhampur: The Epicenter of Disruption

According to Shubham Yadav, Project Director of NHAI Ramban, the Udhampur district bore the brunt of the disaster. Torrential rains on August 26, 2025, led to significant damage along a 20-kilometre stretch between Udhampur and Chenani, with the 10-kilometre patch from Bani Nullah to Samroli emerging as the worst-affected.

• The collapse of Tharad Bridge, a crucial 20-metre-long structure, has become the single biggest hurdle in restoring full connectivity.

• The Tharad area remains unstable, as a massive 150-metre hill has begun shifting, covering three out of four lanes. Presently, only one lane is open for restricted movement.

• This makes the restoration process extremely challenging, as engineers have to both stabilize the hill and rebuild the collapsed bridge, which will take a minimum of six months.

Balli Nullah and Samroli Choke Points

Apart from Tharad, two more sites have posed significant difficulties:

1. Balli Nullah – The road caved in due to heavy water discharge, and NHAI teams are using boulders and embankments to temporarily fill the gap. If weather conditions remain stable, officials expect to restore two-lane traffic within a couple of days.

2. Samroli carriageways – Both sides of the highway near Samroli have been damaged, further slowing down the restoration. Currently, limited traffic is allowed to ensure the supply of essential goods to the Valley.

Partial Relief and Slow Progress

Despite the extent of the damage, NHAI workers deployed heavy machinery and manpower to restore partial connectivity by August 30, just a day and a half after the disaster. This enabled the movement of heavy vehicles carrying food, medicines, and other critical supplies into Kashmir.

However, subsequent rainfall in the region has slowed down further progress. Landslide-prone areas, particularly near Tharad, remain highly unstable, forcing authorities to work under constant threat of fresh collapses.

Wider Transport Disruption: Railways Affected

The devastation is not limited to the highway alone. The Northern Railway has also announced sweeping cancellations due to flood damage:

• 68 trains, both incoming and outgoing, from Jammu and Katra stations have been canceled until September 30, 2025.

• 24 trains are scheduled to resume operations, depending on the pace of repair.

• Train services have been suspended for over a week in the Jammu railway division due to track misalignment and breaches across multiple locations in the Pathankot-Jammu section.

This dual disruption of road and rail transport has further strained connectivity to Jammu and Kashmir, leading to concerns over the uninterrupted supply of essentials.

Government Response and Relief Measures

Authorities have emphasized that while short-term connectivity solutions are being implemented, permanent restoration will take months.

• The collapsed Tharad Bridge will require structural reconstruction, a process estimated to last at least six months.

• The shifting hill in Tharad may demand geo-technical interventions such as slope stabilization, retaining walls, and controlled blasting.

• At Balli Nullah and Samroli, temporary restorations are underway, but the final resurfacing and strengthening will take longer.

Broader Impact of Rains and Floods in J&K

This is not the first major infrastructure setback caused by rains in Jammu and Kashmir in recent weeks. Earlier in August, floods in Bastar and Dantewada districts had already claimed lives, damaged houses, and forced large-scale evacuations.

In Jammu and Kashmir itself, continuous heavy rainfall has increased the frequency of landslides, cave-ins, and road closures, adding immense pressure on the state disaster management teams and NHAI workers.

Strategic Importance of NH-44

The Jammu-Srinagar highway is more than just a road—it is the economic and logistical lifeline of Kashmir. It is the only all-weather road that ensures:

• Supply of food, fuel, medicines, and other essentials.

• Transport of security forces and military equipment.

• Movement of tourists and local traders.

Any prolonged disruption creates economic bottlenecks, inflation in essential commodities, and logistical challenges for both civilians and security agencies.

Conclusion

The Jammu-Srinagar highway crisis of 2025 has once again highlighted the fragility of the region’s infrastructure in the face of extreme weather and natural disasters. While partial traffic movement has resumed, the collapse of Tharad Bridge and continued landslide threats mean that full restoration will take at least six months, according to NHAI officials.

With 68 trains canceled and major roadblocks persisting, connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir remains under severe stress. Authorities continue to work on emergency repairs, but a long-term solution may require more resilient infrastructure planning in the Himalayan region.

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