Banihal: Amidst the continuing blockade of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Udhampur, hundreds of truck drivers and passengers remain stranded for several days, facing severe hardships. In a humanitarian gesture, Kashmir ATHROUT and local NGO groups in Banihal stepped in to provide emergency food supplies to the affected drivers and passengers on Sunday.
Truck drivers, many of whom have been stuck with perishable goods in their vehicles, expressed gratitude for the timely support. “We were hungry and helpless for the last several days. The food and water provided by these organisations have given us relief in this difficult time,” said one driver.
Volunteers from Banihal distributed cooked meals, dry rations, and drinking water at multiple locations where the stranded trucks were parked. The initiative has been widely hailed by both the drivers and fellow passengers as a much-needed act of solidarity.
Meanwhile, volunteer organisations in Banihal have urged other relief agencies, civil society groups, and government authorities to step forward and extend further assistance. They stressed that, in addition to food, the stranded drivers urgently require non-food support such as medicines, blankets, and hygiene kits as the wait prolongs.
The highway, a vital lifeline connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India, has been witnessing frequent closures due to landslides and repair works. The current blockade near Udhampur has particularly affected heavy trucks carrying apples and other goods, causing distress both to drivers and to Kashmir’s trade community.
Local residents and NGOs emphasised that long-term solutions are urgently needed to prevent recurrent humanitarian crises whenever the highway is blocked.
