After remaining closed for four consecutive days due to landslides and road damage in Udhampur, the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway was reopened on Saturday for stranded vehicles, bringing much-needed relief to fruit growers in Kashmir who had been facing mounting anxiety over possible losses.
The highway—considered the lifeline of the Valley—was blocked following record rainfall on August 26, which triggered flash floods, submerged low-lying areas, and washed away a 60-metre stretch of road. Officials said more than 2,000 vehicles, including hundreds of trucks carrying perishable fruit, had been stuck at various points along the 250-km stretch.
For Kashmir’s fruit industry, which heavily relies on timely transportation, the disruption had raised fears of massive financial setbacks.
Sopore Fruit Mandi President, Fayaz Ahmad Malik Kaka, said the damage could have been catastrophic if the highway closure had continued.
“Nearly 300 to 400 trucks carrying pears and other early fruit varieties were stranded. With perishable produce, every single day matters. Losses could easily run into crores if the road had not been cleared,” Kaka told KINS.
He added that the resumption of traffic, even if only for stranded vehicles, has eased some of the pressure but appealed for a swift restoration of normal two-way movement.
“Lakhs of people in Kashmir depend on this trade. We cannot afford repeated disruptions. Authorities must ensure the highway remains operational without further delay,” he said.(KINS)
