Srinagar-Leh Highway closed due to mudslides after cloudburst in J&K

The commuters have been advised to avoid journeys on the highway till the clearance of the debris

August 4, 2024

Cloudburst in J&K’s Ganderbal, Srinagar-Leh highway blocked

The Srinagar-Leh Highway was closed on Sunday following a series of mudslides triggered by a cloudburst in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir. Officials confirmed that there have been no reports of casualties.

The cloudburst struck the Kaw Cherwan village in the early hours of the morning, leading to significant disruptions on the strategic highway, which is crucial for travel to the Amarnath Yatris’ Baltal base camp in North Kashmir.

The cloudburst also caused damage to approximately two dozen houses and breached the powerhouse canal in Kaw Cherwan, compounding the situation. Efforts are underway to clear the debris and restore the highway.

Locals said that the cloudburst has affected Kaw Cherwan, Padabal, and Cherwa villages in the area.

The debris has also damaged large portions of cultivated land in the village bringing the standing paddy crop under tons of debris.

Authorities have reached the spot to supervise relief operations while the exercise to remove the debris from the highway and make it motorable is also likely to start soon.

So far, there are no reports of any loss of life in this tragedy.

The commuters have been advised to avoid journeys on the highway till the clearance of the debris.

The Meteorological (MeT) Department has forecast intermittent rainfall accompanied by the possibility of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides in vulnerable areas of the union territory till August 11.

Earlier, a weather office statement said, “From 3rd to 5th August brief spells of Rain/ thundershower will occur at few places during day time with spells of light to moderate rain/ thundershower at many places of J&K towards night/ early morning.”

“From August 6th to August 8th a spell of rain/ thundershower is likely at scattered places of Kashmir Division and many places of Jammu Division. From August 9 to August 11 a spell of rain/ thundershower is likely at isolated places in the Kashmir Division and fairly widespread in the Jammu Division,” the MeT Department said.

It also issued an advisory, saying, “Intense showers for a brief period with the possibility of flash floods/ cloud bursts/ landslides/ mudslides and shooting stones over vulnerable places of J&K and heavy rainfall at a few places of J&K during next the next three days.”

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