Mughal Road Closed After Fresh Snowfall at Peer Ki Gali, Traffic Suspended for Safety
Jammu, Nov 5: The strategic Mughal Road, which serves as an alternative link between the Kashmir Valley and the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu division, has been temporarily closed for vehicular movement following fresh snowfall at Peer Ki Gali and adjoining high-altitude stretches. The closure, officials said, was a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of commuters amid slippery and snow-covered conditions.
According to the Department of Traffic, snowfall began late Monday night and intensified by early Tuesday morning, blanketing the higher reaches of Pir Panjal, including Peer Ki Gali, Heerpora, and Poshana, with several inches of snow. The sudden drop in temperature and accumulation of ice made the road unsafe for travel, prompting authorities to suspend traffic until conditions improve.
“Traffic movement on the Mughal Road has been stopped due to fresh snowfall at Peer Ki Gali and surrounding areas,” said Manzoor Ahmad Kohli, Deputy Traffic Inspector (DTI), Mughal Road. “The step has been taken purely as a safety precaution. The road is extremely slippery, and visibility has reduced considerably in certain patches. We urge travelers not to attempt movement until the route is declared safe and reopened,” he added.
The closure has caused inconvenience to commuters, particularly transporters and residents who rely on the historic route for trade and travel between south Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region. Several vehicles bound for Poonch and Rajouri were stopped at Shopian and Bafliaz to prevent them from getting stranded in snowbound areas.
Officials from the Mechanical Engineering Department confirmed that snow clearance operations will be launched once the weather stabilizes. “We are closely monitoring the weather situation. As soon as snowfall stops and visibility improves, our teams with snow cutters and dozers will be deployed to clear the route,” said an officer overseeing road maintenance.
The Mughal Road, stretching over 84 kilometers, traverses the Pir Panjal range and often remains vulnerable to early winter snowfall, making it one of the first routes to close each season. Despite repeated efforts by the administration to keep it open for longer durations, unpredictable weather and inadequate snow management infrastructure continue to challenge its year-round accessibility.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has forecasted that light to moderate snowfall may continue over higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir for the next 12 hours, with significant improvement expected thereafter. The plains, however, are likely to experience mainly dry weather from tomorrow onwards.
Authorities have appealed to the public to follow official advisories and refrain from undertaking unnecessary travel on hilly routes during adverse weather. “Our priority is to ensure the safety of every traveler. The route will be reopened as soon as it is safe for movement,” officials reiterated.
