A mudslide triggered by heavy rainfall on the Mughal Road has stranded hundreds of vehicles since Sunday. The weather-induced incident disrupted traffic on one of the important inter-district roads connecting Rajouri and Poonch with the Kashmir Valley.
Officials said heavy rainfall lashed the road and surrounding mountain passes, forcing the closure of a stretch of over 500 metres near Pir Ki Gali.
The heavy downpour resulted in disruption of traffic, stranding hundreds of passenger and carrier vehicles transporting FMCG products, dairy, and livestock to the Kashmir Valley. Both sides of the road remain affected and closed due to the mudslide, officials added. Men and machinery have been pressed into service to restore the critical stretch and clear the fallen debris.
Authorities have issued an advisory asking travellers to avoid the route until the road is cleared and traffic is restored. Reopening of the road will also depend on improvement in weather conditions.
The road serves as an alternative to the often-congested National Highway 44 connecting Jammu with Srinagar.
The road connects Rajouri and Poonch with south Kashmir's Shopian district and serves as an important route for residents living across the two sides of the Pir Panjal Mountains.
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