Controlled Blasting Clears Boulder Blockade on Jammu-Srinagar Highway, Traffic Restored

JAMMU, Aug 3: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) carried out a controlled blasting operation to remove massive boulders that had blocked the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) near Champari in Udhampur district, restoring traffic on the vital route. The blockage occurred on the Srinagar-bound tube of the highway after heavy rainfall triggered a landslide, causing large rocks to tumble from a nearby hillside onto the road. The incident disrupted the movement of commuters, goods carriers, and essential supplies. To ensure public safety, authorities temporarily suspended traffic on the affected stretch before the blasting operation. Engineers and safety personnel secured the area and carried out the precision blast to break the giant boulders into smaller pieces. Following the operation, heavy machinery was deployed to clear the debris from the highway. After a detailed inspection confirmed the road was safe for travel, traffic was resumed on the affected section. The successful operation restored connectivity on one of the country’s most important highways, providing relief to stranded passengers and ensuring the smooth movement of vehicles between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley.