According to officials, heavy rainfall on Monday morning generated shooting stones and landslides that shut the Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH44) near Mehad and Seri in the Ramban district.
Rohit Baskotra, the SSP Traffic, national highway said in a statement that “Incessant rains are hampering road clearance operations. The vehicles have been stopped from going to Ramban, Jammu or Srinagar.”
Due to the rains, Ramban district magistrate Mussarat Islam has ordered the closure of all government and private schools up to secondary level (Class 10) across Ramban district, fearing flash floods in rivers and rivulets.
According to a traffic police directive, the Jammu-Srinagar national route is still closed. “Mughal Road is also blocked due to landslide at Harikatha. People are advised not to travel on NH-44 and Mughal Road till restoration work is completed,” it read.
Monsoon rains lashed portions of Jammu and Kashmir, providing relief from the scorching, even if the weatherman predicts more rain in the coming days. “Generally cloudy weather with intermittent light to moderate rain is expected in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours,” a meteorological department official said.
On June 27, sporadic rain was forecast, with some areas in the Jammu region seeing moderate to heavy showers in the morning hours. On June 28-29, there will be periodic light rain, while on June 30, the weather will be partly cloudy.
“Rain likely in the evening of June 30,” he further added. Heavy rains may cause localized flash floods and mudslides in vulnerable areas, particularly in the Jammu region.