Udhampur, October 12, 2025 – A powerful landslide struck the Narsoo-Samroli area along the critical Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district late Saturday night, leading to the dramatic collapse of a newly opened hotel and several adjacent commercial structures. The incident, which occurred around 11:30 PM, sent shockwaves through the local community, triggering immediate panic and a swift multi-agency rescue response.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with massive boulders and earth cascading down the hillside, engulfing the roadside market in Narsoo. The affected hotel, a recent addition to the area’s limited traveler amenities, was reduced to rubble, alongside a handful of shops and other buildings in the bustling Somroli market. Fortunately, timely evacuations by local authorities prevented any loss of life, with officials confirming zero casualties as of Sunday morning.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, a vital lifeline connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India, was temporarily disrupted, stranding hundreds of vehicles and exacerbating travel woes in the already landslide-prone region. Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local administration teams mobilized rapidly, deploying heavy machinery to clear debris and assess structural damage. “Relief efforts are in full swing, and we are working around the clock to restore normalcy,” stated a spokesperson for the Udhampur District Administration, emphasizing that further geological surveys are underway to mitigate future risks.
Social media footage shared by locals and journalists captured the sheer scale of the disaster, showing twisted metal, scattered debris, and emergency lights piercing the night amid heavy rains that likely triggered the slide. One video clip, viewed thousands of times, depicted rescuers combing through the wreckage under floodlights as the first responders in the face of nature’s fury.
This event highlights the recurring vulnerability of the highway, notorious for frequent landslides during the monsoon and autumn seasons. Experts attribute such incidents to the region’s fragile Himalayan geology, compounded by heavy rainfall and construction activities. This incident prompt calls for advanced early-warning systems and reinforced infrastructure.
As cleanup operations continue into Sunday, authorities have urged travelers to avoid the area and use alternate routes where possible. The Udhampur administration has promised compensation for affected property owners and is coordinating with state and central agencies for long-term preventive measures. Updates on highway reopening and damage assessments are expected later today.
