Dr. Jitendra Singh Monitors Rockfall on NH-244, One Dead
Synopsis
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh personally coordinated with the DC Doda after shooting stones hit a passenger bus and vehicles at Raggi Nallah on NH-244 on 20 July 2026, killing one person. Three seriously injured have been moved to GMC Udhampur; debris clearance is under way and the highway remains closed to traffic.
Key Takeaways
A rockfall at Raggi Nallah on NH-244 struck a passenger bus and several vehicles on 20 July 2026 , resulting in one fatality .
Three seriously injured persons were evacuated to GMC Udhampur ; others are being treated at PHC Assar .
Jitendra Singh spoke directly with DC Doda Sh.
Krishan Lal and is monitoring the situation from his office.
Debris clearance teams and rescue personnel are on site; commuters have been advised to avoid NH-244 until it is declared safe.
NH-244 is a critical lifeline for Doda and Kishtwar districts and has been prioritised under the Bharatmala programme for slope stabilisation.
Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Monday, 20 July 2026, spoke directly with District Collector (DC) Doda, Sh. Krishan Lal, after receiving reports of shooting stones striking a passenger bus and several other vehicles at Raggi Nallah on the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar National Highway (NH-244) in Jammu and Kashmir. One casualty has been reported and three persons are seriously injured.
Context
The minister confirmed that shooting stones struck a passenger bus and multiple other vehicles at Raggi Nallah, a stretch of NH-244 that passes through steep Himalayan terrain in the Chenab valley. Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed his 'sincere condolence with the bereaved family' and provided an immediate update on relief operations.
Three seriously injured persons have been shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Udhampur, the primary trauma referral centre for Doda and Kishtwar districts. Other injured persons are receiving medical assistance at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Assar, located closer to the incident site.
Policy Backdrop
NH-244 is the lifeline connecting Batote, Doda, and Kishtwar through some of the most geologically unstable terrain in the Himalayas. Rockfalls and debris flows are a chronic seasonal hazard, particularly during the monsoon months, owing to fractured geology and steep slopes.
After Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised as a Union Territory in 2019, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways prioritised slope-stabilisation and widening works on NH-244 under the Bharatmala programme. Despite these interventions, monsoon-season incidents continue to disrupt connectivity and endanger commuters on this strategic corridor.
Dr. Jitendra Singh represents the Udhampur parliamentary constituency, which gives him a direct political and administrative stake in the highway's safety and the welfare of residents in Doda and Kishtwar districts.
Stakeholders and Impact
Highway commuters and residents of Doda and Kishtwar — two districts whose connectivity depends almost entirely on NH-244 — are the most directly affected. A closure or prolonged disruption cuts off supply chains, essential services, and inter-district travel for tens of thousands of people.
Debris clearance teams have been deployed at the site, and the rescue team is reported to be on the spot. Commuters have been officially advised to avoid travelling on NH-244 until the road is cleared and declared safe for vehicular movement. Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that his office 'is in constant touch' with the district administration.
What's Next
The immediate priority is completing debris clearance and formally declaring the highway safe before traffic is allowed to resume. The status of slope-protection tenders already sanctioned for vulnerable stretches of NH-244 is expected to come under renewed scrutiny following this incident.
With the monsoon season at its peak, authorities will face pressure to expedite long-term slope-stabilisation works to prevent recurring closures. Any fresh directives from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on accelerating such works on NH-244 will be closely watched by commuters and local administrations alike.
Point of View
Given that Doda falls within his Udhampur parliamentary base. The incident puts a spotlight on the persistent gap between Bharatmala's slope-stabilisation ambitions on NH-244 and the ground reality of recurring monsoon-season rockfalls. For the Union Territory administration, each such episode renews pressure to accelerate long-pending tenders for protective infrastructure on Himalayan highways. The minister's emphasis on his office being 'in constant touch' signals an intent to stay visibly accountable, which is increasingly the norm for senior leaders managing connectivity crises in strategically sensitive border districts.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Raggi Nallah on NH-244 on 20 July 2026?
Shooting stones struck a passenger bus and several other vehicles at Raggi Nallah on the Batote-Doda-Kishtwar National Highway (NH-244) in Jammu and Kashmir, killing one person and seriously injuring three others.
Where have the injured from the NH-244 rockfall been taken?
Three seriously injured persons have been shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Udhampur, while other injured persons are receiving medical assistance at PHC Assar near the incident site.
Is NH-244 open after the Raggi Nallah rockfall?
No. Commuters have been officially advised to avoid travelling on NH-244 until debris is cleared and the road is declared safe for vehicular movement. Clearance teams are on the spot.
What is Dr. Jitendra Singh's connection to the Doda rockfall incident?
Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology who also represents the Udhampur constituency, personally called DC Doda Sh. Krishan Lal and is monitoring relief and rescue operations from his office.
What is Bharatmala and how does it relate to NH-244?
Bharatmala is a central government highway development programme under which slope-stabilisation and road-widening works on NH-244 were prioritised after Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory in 2019, though monsoon rockfalls continue to disrupt the route.
