Kishtwar, May 28 — The Phagumar-Kandini stretch of National Highway 244 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district remains blocked for the third consecutive day following a massive landslide on May 25, disrupting vehicular movement and stranding commuters on both sides.
Restoration efforts are currently underway, with heavy machinery deployed by R&B Infra, the agency responsible for the road under Package III. The company has carried out controlled blasting to dislodge large boulders obstructing the highway, in an effort to expedite clearance operations.
Officials on the ground, including Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Rajesh Kumar Shavan, ARTO Kishtwar Tasleem Wani, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic), and the General Manager of NHIDCL, have been supervising the work over the past three days. On Tuesday, ARTO Wani and DySP Traffic were seen distributing bottled water among stranded truck drivers and travellers.
Partial transhipment arrangements have been made for passengers, allowing them to traverse the affected stretch on foot and continue their journey via alternate vehicles. However, goods carriers and private transport remain halted due to the blockage.
Speaking to The Chenab Times, officials from R&B Infra indicated that, barring fresh landslides, the road is likely to be cleared by Wednesday, May 28. “Our teams are working round-the-clock with all available machinery. If the weather holds and no further slides occur, traffic movement can resume soon,” an official said.
Despite these assurances, the situation on the ground suggests that the reopening may take longer, as stability of the hillside remains a concern.
NH244 serves as a vital link between the Chenab Valley and the Kashmir region, and its frequent closure due to natural disasters has led to renewed calls for long-term mitigation and structural fortification of the vulnerable stretches.
The administration has advised travellers to exercise caution and follow official advisories while restoration work continues.
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Saqib Zargar is a The Chenab Times staff reporter.
