SRINAGAR: In Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), more than 1,000 trucks carrying fruits and other perishable goods worth hundreds of crores of rupees remain stranded due to the week-long closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
The blockade, caused by heavy rains triggering landslides and mudslides in Udhampur, has inflicted severe losses on Kashmiri farmers and fruit growers.
The shutdown comes at the peak of the harvest season, leaving traders and growers fearing losses estimated at nearly 200 crore, as perishable produce begins to rot in halted vehicles. The Srinagar-Jammu highway is the region’s primary supply route, and its disruption has crippled the fruit trade, a vital part of Kashmir’s economy.
Amid growing concern, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has reiterated its long-standing demand for the opening of traditional cross-LoC trade routes, particularly the Srinagar–Muzaffarabad road. The APHC argues that reopening this historic route would allow for the export of Kashmir’s local produce to Muzaffarabad and beyond, providing direct economic benefits to the region and reducing dependency on the vulnerable Jammu route.
The group emphasized that such measures would not only support the local economy but also encourage people-to-people contact across the Line of Control, forming part of a broader framework for resolving the Kashmir dispute through dialogue.
Meanwhile, authorities have issued a flood alert in Jammu after water levels in the Tawi River crossed the danger mark. Residents in low-lying areas have been advised to remain vigilant.
Additionally, fresh cracks have appeared on the Ramban flyover due to ongoing heavy rains, raising fears of further road collapses and prolonged transportation disruptions.
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