Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
What should have been a routine journey turned into an ordeal for thousands of travellers on Sunday as traffic congestion continued for the second consecutive day on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), leaving commuters stranded for hours in the Ramban-Banihal sector.
The disruption, triggered by the breakdown of two trucks on the strategic highway, resulted in long queues of vehicles stretching across several kilometres. Families, tourists, patients, and truck drivers found themselves trapped in their vehicles under difficult conditions, with little clarity on when the traffic would resume normally.
Among those affected were families travelling back to Kashmir after weekend visits to Jammu, children returning from vacations, and patients heading to hospitals for medical appointments. Many passengers reported spending several hours on the road without access to basic facilities such as food, drinking water, and restrooms.
For truck drivers transporting essential commodities, the prolonged traffic jam meant not only delays in deliveries but also mounting financial losses. Several drivers expressed concern that the congestion could affect the supply chain of perishable goods and other necessities destined for the Valley.
The situation was particularly challenging for elderly passengers and young children, many of whom were forced to remain confined inside vehicles for extended periods. Some commuters described the experience as frustrating and exhausting, especially as temperatures rose during the day.
Traffic police personnel remained deployed throughout the affected stretch, working continuously to regulate traffic and clear the bottlenecks. Senior officers supervised the operations, while efforts were intensified to remove the stranded vehicles and restore smooth movement along the highway.
Despite the challenges, authorities urged motorists to remain patient and cooperate with officials on duty. Traffic clearance operations continued till late evening as teams worked to ease congestion and ensure the safe passage of stranded vehicles.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all-weather road link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, frequently witnesses disruptions due to accidents, vehicle breakdowns, landslides, and adverse weather conditions. Sunday’s congestion once again highlighted the vulnerability of commuters who depend on the vital corridor for travel, trade and emergency services.
As traffic slowly resumed in phases, many stranded passengers hoped for long-term measures to improve highway management and reduce the hardships faced during such recurring disruptions.
