Bla-Uri highway blocked after fresh landslides

Idrees Bukhtiyar
Comments 0
08 Jan 2026

Srinagar, Jan 08: The Baramulla-Uri highway was closed for around two hours on Thursday afternoon after a massive landslide blocked the road near Eco-Park, causing inconvenience to commuters and once again raising concerns over safety on the vital stretch. Officials said traffic was diverted through the Khadniyar route on the other side of the River Jhelum for smooth movement. However, commuters complained that the alternative road is in a dilapidated condition and poses serious risks for vehicles. “The Khadniyar road is in very bad shape. It is narrow and damaged at several places, making it unsafe, especially for heavy vehicles,” said Mukhtar Ahmad, a commuter who was travelling to Uri from Srinagar. He added that many motorists were forced to take a risky route to reach their destinations. This was the third instance in the past one month that the highway was closed due to landslides, locals said, terming it a “regular affair” now. They blamed the ongoing two-laning and widening work of the highway for the frequent slope failures. “Unscientific earth-cutting and poor planning during the widening work are triggering these landslides. There is hardly any monitoring at the work sites,” said a local resident, urging the authorities to ensure proper safety measures. Commuters also questioned the government over the repeated disruptions on the highway. “Every time it rains or there is minor disturbance, the road gets blocked. Authorities must fix accountability and ensure safe execution of the project,” said Irshad Ahmad, another commuter from Uri. Officials said clearance operations were launched immediately, and the highway was reopened for traffic after debris was removed.