Baraat on foot: Jammu-Srinagar Highway blocked, groom, kin trek to wedding through Ramban landslide; watch video

JAMMU: Mashkoor, a groom in Jammu and Kashmir, walked to his wedding venue on Monday along with his procession after landslides triggered by heavy rainfall shut down the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH 44).

The groom explained that they were forced to walk because of the heavy rainfall the previous day, which led to the road closure.
According to the groom, the group began their journey at 6 am, having parked their cars behind, and decided to continue the rest of the way on foot.

"It is my wedding day... This is the situation because of the heavy rainfall yesterday. We have to go on foot. We started travelling at 6 am. We parked our cars behind and now we will walk the rest of the way. We still have around 7-8 km more to walk. We would bring the bride the same way, as the roads are not cleared. We request the government to clear NH 44 as soon as possible...," says Mashkoor, the groom who is on his way to his wedding on foot as the roads are blocked after landslides.
Mashkoor further mentioned that they plan to bring the bride back by the same route, as the roads remain uncleared.
The groom urged the government to clear NH 44 at the earliest possible opportunity.
Flash floods trigger highway closure
Road clearing activities are in progress on National Highway 44 in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the early hours of Sunday, intense rainfall caused by cloudbursts led to flash floods and landslides in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district.

The vital 250-kilometre Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which serves as the sole all-weather connection between Kashmir and the rest of India, was rendered impassable. Numerous vehicles were stranded as debris from mountainsides blocked approximately twelve locations along the route between Nashri and Banihal.
Severe weather prompts school closures
Due to persistent severe weather conditions and predictions, Kashmir valley schools will suspend all classwork on Monday, April 21, announced Sakina Itoo, the education minister of Jammu and Kashmir (J-K).
The announcement follows ongoing heavy rainfall, cloudbursts and landslides affecting various regions of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in mountainous areas.
The Srinagar Meteorological Centre has issued a yellow alert or 'watch' for the majority of districts, with the exception of Jammu, Poonch, Kathua, Muzzafarabad and Mirpur.