Cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban Shuts NH-44: Authorities Urge Travelers to Check Highway Status Before Departure

Heavy Rainfall Disrupts Traffic on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway; Weather-Related Incidents Kill 10 Across North India

NEW DELHI, India – A cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district on Friday triggered heavy mudslides, forcing the closure of National Highway-44 (NH-44) in both directions. The critical Jammu-Srinagar route remains blocked due to mud and debris, with the district administration urging commuters to verify the highway’s status via official sources and social media before beginning their journeys.

Travel Disruption on Key National Corridor

The cloudburst caused massive mudslinging on the road surface, rendering the NH-44 impassable. Emergency services and road-clearing machinery have been deployed, but operations are ongoing, and the route remains shut at the time of reporting.

The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is a lifeline for logistics and passenger movement between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of India. Officials have stated that any travel along the stretch should be postponed unless real-time clearance updates confirm a safe passage.

Storms Kill 10 Across Delhi-NCR, UP, and Chhattisgarh

The incident in Ramban coincided with severe weather events across northern and central India, where 10 people lost their lives on Thursday night due to thunderstorms, falling trees, and lightning.

Breakdown of fatalities:

• Delhi-NCR: 4 deaths, including a tragic incident in Dwarka’s Kharkhari Nahar village, where a neem tree fell on a tubewell room, killing a mother and her three children.

• Uttar Pradesh: 4 deaths due to falling branches and structures.

• Chhattisgarh: 2 storm-related casualties.

Flight Operations Disrupted at Delhi Airport

Heavy rainfall and gusty winds led to widespread waterlogging in low-lying areas of Delhi. Over 200 flights were delayed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, and three flights were diverted two to Jaipur and one to Ahmedabad. Despite the disruption, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) confirmed that operations are now back to normal.

The airport typically handles around 1,300 flights per day, making it one of the busiest in Asia.

Widespread Weather Alerts Across India

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for severe weather in multiple states:

• Rajasthan: Dust storms and thunderstorms expected in 30 districts. Recent storms affected Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Bhilwara, and Pali with rain and hail.

• North India: Thunderstorms and dust storms likely in Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, and parts of Uttarakhand.

• Central and Northeast India: Hail alerts for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.

• Jammu region: Continued rain forecast offering some relief from rising temperatures, though accompanied by landslide risks.