The National Highway-44 (NH-44), the main route that links Jammu and Srinagar, the hilly Banihal- Ramban Sector has become a hotspot for environmental concerns. As most part of this stretch reverberates with periodic rockfalls, landslides, slope collapses, and mud flows. These frequent occurrences are signs of a more serious ecological problem rather than being random occurrences. The phrase "the mountains are taking revenge" is frequently used by locals to convey their grief; it is a potent metaphor for how nature is reacting to unbridled human demands. Despite being deeply rooted in local opinion, this occurrence represents a genuine and serious alteration in the landscape brought about by unscientific development practices, geological fragility, and climate change.
Climate change is one of the main natural elements causing this catastrophe. Unpredictable rainfall patterns, frequent cloudbursts, and a discernible increase in ambient temperatures are among the more unpredictable weather patterns the region is seeing. In addition to directly affecting the frequency and severity of landslides, these changes have upset the conventional weather cycle. For instance, severe rainstorms flood the broken rocks and loose, weathered soil, making slope collapses more likely. In recent years, cloudbursts—sudden, intense rainstorms—have become more frequent. Particularly destructive was the cloudburst that occurred in 2022 close to Seri village, which demonstrated how quickly such severe weather conditions may wash away whole sections of the roadway. The stability of the rocks and soil has also been further diminished by warming temperatures, which have also changed the freeze-thaw cycle and undermined the permafrost at higher elevations.
Ramban's innate geological fragility adds to these natural difficulties. The area belongs to a young fold mountain system, which is distinguished by unstable, fractured, and strongly jointed rock formations. The risk of landslides is naturally increased by the high angles of many of the slopes along NH-44, which often exceed 45 degrees. The sandstones, clayey soils, and decomposed shale that make up these slopes are all extremely vulnerable to erosion and displacement when disturbed. The already tenuous equilibrium is upset when these fragile strata are exposed during highway building or widening, leading to significant slope collapses. Because they are built without a thorough understanding of the underlying geology, retaining walls and embankments frequently fail.
Human intervention, particularly in the form of haphazard development and infrastructure growth, is another important factor contributing to the so-called "mountain revenge." Along NH-44, roadside shops, dhabas, hotels, and parking lots have grown quickly and frequently haphazardly due to the increasing need for transportation, tourism, and economic linkages. Often, these buildings are constructed without any kind of drainage or slope-retention design on steep or loose slopes. Water seeps into the slopes after rains, raising pore pressure and compromising the soil's structural stability. This causes erosion and mudslides often. Drainage systems are frequently either non-existent or obstructed, which exacerbates the issue by channelling water flow into susceptible locations.
The practice of significant toe cutting and tunnelling during highway expansion and upgrading projects is equally concerning. Tunnelling operations, like those between Nashri and Banihal, pierce geologically delicate areas, upsetting the rock mass's equilibrium and frequently causing internal collapses or surface subsidence. Similarly, the natural stability of slopes is undermined by toe cutting, which is the removal of a hill or slope's base to make room for road building. A hill's higher layers lose its basic stability and are more liable to collapse when the base is removed or disturbed, particularly when seismic activity or rainfall is present. These engineering techniques become a formula for catastrophe if they are not supported by comprehensive geological investigations and mitigation strategies.
Another major factor contributing to the destabilisation of the ground is the high volume of automobile traffic along NH-44. The military uses this roadway as a vital supply line in addition to being a route for civilian traffic. Every day, thousands of vehicles pass through this area, including convoys, buses, and trucks that are fully loaded. The weakly held rocks and sediments along the slopes are disturbed by the continuous vibrations brought on by high traffic. Additionally, the already delicate ecology is further weakened by the heat and pollution released by vehicles in traffic jams. The sheer volume of traffic puts additional strain on the terrain in places like Ramsu, Nachlana, and Mehar that are narrow and prone to landslides.
This ecological catastrophe now has an additional dimension due to deforestation. Because their root systems bind the soil and absorb excess water, trees and other plants are essential for stabilising mountain slopes. However, the NH-44 corridor has seen the clearing of large tracts of forest cover in the name of development. This crucial natural barrier has vanished as a result of road building, timber harvesting, and population growth. Rainfall immediately affects the exposed soil in the absence of trees, accelerating erosion and making it more vulnerable to slides. Additionally, local biodiversity has been disturbed and the environment's inherent resistance to climatic shocks has been diminished due to the loss of forest ecosystems.
This cumulative deterioration has serious repercussions. Landslides at Ramban cause fatalities, damage to infrastructure and automobiles, and extended highway closures each year for days and even weeks, the financial losses are enormous. Perishable items are frequently wasted, emergency services are delayed, and travellers are left stranded. Even though these tragedies happen often, the reaction is still mostly reactive, concentrating on debris removal rather than averting more occurrences.
A thorough and sustainable strategy is needed to stop the cycle of devastation and bring equilibrium back to this environmentally delicate area. First and foremost, thorough geotechnical and environmental impact studies must be conducted prior to construction and road-widening projects. Only under rigorous scientific supervision, with appropriate stabilisation measures in place, tunnelling and slope-cutting operations be conducted. Long-term slope stabilisation solutions can be obtained using bioengineering methods such retaining walls with native vegetation, vetiver grass, and geo-grids. To improve soil cohesiveness and restore the green cover, reforestation initiatives must be given top priority. In order to avoid settlements on dangerous slopes, zoning regulations should be severely implemented and unplanned building should be tightly controlled.
Preventing water buildup and seepage into the slopes also requires improved drainage systems. Slope movement can be identified and timely notifications can be sent with the use of real-time monitoring systems, such as early warning networks and remote sensors. Furthermore, the strain on the highway can be lessened by traffic management techniques including use of alternate Routes like Mughal Road and Sinthen-Kishtawar roads and seasonal movement patterns. The introduction of train services to Jammu will emerge as a vital step toward reducing traffic congestion on NH-44, easing the pressure on this already fragile and landslide-prone highway corridor. Last but not least, community involvement and awareness-raising initiatives are essential for fostering local resilience and making sure that development is done in a way that respects the environment.
Finally, Ramban's depiction of the "revenge of the mountains" is a reflection of nature's opposition to unsustainable human behaviours rather than a myth or artistic exaggeration. A perfect storm of environmental fragility has been generated by the region's distinct terrain, unchecked development, and climate change. The consequences will only increase in terms of human lives, ecological balance, and economic stability if we ignore these warning indicators. The moment has come to reconsider our connection with the mountains as living systems that should be appreciated and conserved rather than as challenges to be overcome.

Email:----------------------------- masoongeo@gmail.com