Sept 1, 2025; On Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah traveled extensively through the districts of Ramban and Udhampur to assess the widespread destruction brought on by recent cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides, and mudslides.

These events have severely disrupted daily life and damaged the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44). At Marog in Ramban district, the Chief Minister inspected a severely damaged stretch of NH-44 and directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), BEACON, and other executing agencies to restore this vital road link on a war footing. He emphasized that the immediate priority is to guarantee the uninterrupted supply of essential goods to the Kashmir Valley and the smooth movement of traffic.

The Chief Minister assured the families impacted by the devastating cloudburst in Rajgarh that the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) would provide adequate financial assistance as he reviewed the relief and rehabilitation efforts there. He instructed officials to extend timely support to all those in distress. Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alyas Khan informed the Chief Minister that immediate financial aid from the District Red Cross Fund had already been disbursed to the affected families.

During the visit, Omar Abdullah also reviewed the availability of essential commodities, healthcare services, and critical public utilities across the district. He directed the administration to ensure the continuous availability of food supplies, clean drinking water, electricity, and medical care.

The people of Ramban were reassured by the Chief Minister that the government is fully committed to expediting restoration efforts and providing all affected families with comprehensive support. Later, the Chief Minister visited the damaged portions of NH-44 at Bali Nallah and Thard in Udhampur district. He looked over the ongoing restoration work and told the executing agencies to use more people and machinery to speed up the removal of debris and repairs to the highway. Accompanied by Chenani MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, Deputy Commissioner Saloni Rai, and senior officers of the district administration, he reviewed in detail the round-the-clock clearance operations currently underway.
He stressed that at least one tube of the highway must be urgently opened to facilitate the transport of essential supplies to the Kashmir Valley and alleviate the hardships being faced by the public.

During his interaction with residents at Bali Nallah and Thard, Omar listened to their concerns and assured them of full government support. He directed the administration to immediately provide families whose homes had been damaged with food, clean water, temporary shelters, and other essential assistance. He also ordered the restoration of electricity. Following a comprehensive rehabilitation plan once road connectivity is fully restored, the Chief Minister emphasized that the immediate priority is the safe relocation of affected families from vulnerable zones. Highlighting the critical importance of NH-44, he noted that the highway has suffered unprecedented damage in both Ramban and Udhampur districts, leading to major disruptions in traffic and essential supplies.