In a major step to restore smooth transit along a vital connectivity route, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) executed a high-precision controlled blasting operation on Sunday to clear massive boulders blocking the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44).
The blockage occurred on the Up Tube (Srinagar-bound corridor) near the Champari area of Chenani in Udhampur district.The hazardous obstruction was triggered by heavy rainfall in the region, which caused large rocks to dislodge from an adjacent hilltop and tumble onto the highway, creating severe disruption for commuters, freight operators, and essential supply transport.
Traffic was temporarily halted for public safety during the detonation and fully restored after safety inspections. Authorities previously scheduled closures and restrictions to widen hill-side sections at Ladha and Samroli. Crews cleared loose overhanging material near Gangroo and Kishtwari Pather to prevent future blockages on the Udhampur-Banihal stretch as a part of debris clearance measure.
To prioritise public safety and mitigate risks associated with the heavy detonation, traffic along this strategically critical stretch was temporarily suspended. Authorities and project engineers halted all vehicular movement around the Champari section, ensuring the surrounding area was completely secure before safety experts detonated the controlled explosives.
The targeted blast successfully shattered the gigantic boulders into manageable debris, enabling clearance crews equipped with heavy earth-moving machinery to swiftly scoop away the remaining rocks and clear the carriageway. Following a thorough safety inspection of the road surface, authorities officially reopened the highway for traffic, bringing immense relief to hundreds of stranded commuters and restoring the crucial lifeline connecting Jammu with the Kashmir Valley.
Pertinently, the 250-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was closed for vehicular traffic on Friday.
The closure was put in place to facilitate widening of the carriageway and removal of overhanging debris at vulnerable locations between Udhampur and Banihal, following passage of a batch of around 1,600 pilgrims from the Jammu base camp to the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir at around 2.42 am, they said.
"In view of the suspension of traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the movement of all kinds of vehicles shall remain suspended between Jakheni in Udhampur and the Navyug tunnel in Banihal of Ramban district to facilitate restoration between Jakheni and Banihal", a traffic police advisory said.
The decision was taken following requests from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), with the district magistrates of Udhampur and Ramban issuing separate orders permitting the works in the interest of the safety of commuters and drivers using the strategic highway, they said.
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