Baramulla, Jan 02: A second landslide in just 20 days triggered panic and caused major traffic disruptions on the strategic Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri national highway (NH-1) on Friday. Massive boulders and tons of earth cascaded onto the road near the Eco Park in the Uri subdivision, forcing motorists to scramble for safety.
Official reports confirm there were no casualties or injuries. However, the incident has intensified longstanding public grievances regarding infrastructure safety and administrative oversight.
Local residents directly attributed the landslide to poor planning and persistent neglect. “It is extremely disturbing to witness the administration’s irresponsible approach towards public safety. When landslides occur regularly on this highway, people may soon fear leaving their homes,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a commuter stranded in the resultant gridlock. He urged the administration to address this escalating concern responsibly.
Another local, Manzoor Ahmad speaking with Kashmir Convener stated, “Thank God it happened during daylight. Had it been night, we might have witnessed casualties.” He called for immediate administrative action to prevent such occurrences.
Speaking to Kashmir Convener, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference’s Youth Leader Zubair Mir urged the administration to develop the Khadiniyar-Gantamulla road as a functional alternate route. He highlighted that frequent landslides near Dankhan, adjacent to the Eco Park—combined with ongoing highway widening work—routinely cause severe traffic jams and public inconvenience. Mir appealed for repairs to the approximately three-kilometer Khadiniyar-Gantamulla stretch to provide relief.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mohammad Shafi Bhat placed blame on contractor lapses, stating that such disruptions have become routine since the highway project began. He emphasized that during emergencies, traffic should be immediately diverted via the Khadiniyar-Gantamulla route, which he described as the best available alternative.
Other locals criticized the authorities for what they called a “negligent attitude,” warning that recurring incidents could prove catastrophic without prompt and responsible intervention.
This marks the second major highway incident in Baramulla in just twenty days.
Last month, Baramulla police registered a case following a landslide caused by illegal stone quarrying, which raised serious environmental and safety concerns.
A previous landslide at Khanpora had also prompted pollution fears and warnings of a potential environmental disaster.
District Mineral Officer Zulifkar Ahmad stated that a complete ban on stone excavation from Khanpora to Sheeri was imposed last month. “Illegal stone quarrying and road construction have turned this entire area fragile. We have banned all such activities,” he said, adding that night operations are strictly prohibited and are being monitored.
Responding to this landslide, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, speaking Exclusively with Kashmir Convener said that immediate action was taken after the previous landslide, including halting mining in the area and registering a case under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Acknowledging the extensive construction due to highway widening, the DC said, “Landslides are common during road construction in hilly areas. However, we are trying our best to minimize such occurrences and ensure an immediate response.” He added that efforts are being made to ensure earth-cutting is conducted scientifically to reduce risks and that strict action will be taken against any illegal activity.
Authorities are continuously monitoring the highway work to prevent incidents and ensure smooth traffic flow, he said.
Notably, The valley remains in the grip of ‘Chilla-e-Kalan,’ the 40-day period of harsh winter. Dense fog prevails across several areas, and heavy snowfall continues in the higher reaches. Minimum temperatures dropped further on Thursday night amid clear skies, as the Meteorological Department forecast predominantly dry weather in the coming days.
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