A major stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) caved in near Dewal Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Thursday following continuous heavy rainfall, further disrupting connectivity on the region's lifeline highway. The damaged portion is on the Jammu-bound carriageway, where a section of the road subsided dangerously close to a fast-flowing river.
Visuals from the site showed a large portion of the highway washed away, with swollen river waters eroding the road embankment. Authorities immediately closed the affected stretch to traffic and deployed road maintenance teams to assess the damage and begin restoration work. Officials have urged commuters to avoid travelling on NH-44 until the route is declared safe.
The latest incident comes after days of relentless rain that has battered Jammu and Kashmir, triggering landslides, mudslides and shooting stones at several locations along the highway. Vehicular movement on the strategic route had already been suspended from both Jammu and Srinagar due to hazardous conditions, affecting passenger and freight traffic as well as the movement of essential supplies.
The road collapse adds to a series of infrastructure setbacks caused by the ongoing spell of extreme weather. Earlier this week, flash floods damaged the under-construction Kallar-Androla bridge over the Munawer River in the region. The bridge, built by the Public Works Department, was nearing completion but had not yet been opened for public use.
The heavy rains have also caused widespread devastation across parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Recent cloudbursts and flash floods in Poonch and Rajouri districts have claimed multiple lives, damaged roads, bridges and public utilities, and forced authorities to intensify rescue and relief operations.
Officials said restoration work on NH-44 will begin once weather conditions improve and the stability of the affected area is assessed. Travelers have been advised to monitor official traffic updates before planning their journey, as intermittent rainfall continues to pose the risk of further landslides and road damage across the region.
