Protests Flare In Nurpur After Slushy Highway Condition Causes Injury To Toddler On Scooter

Nurpur : Angered by persistent road deterioration and administrative inaction, residents of Nurpur blocked traffic on the national highway on Tuesday after a three-year-old child sustained injuries in a two-wheeler skid on a slush-covered stretch.

The incident occurred near the ongoing highway construction zone along the Pathankot-Mandi arterial route. Witnesses reported that a local resident was riding a scooter with a young toddler when the vehicle lost traction on a deep patch of mud and slush. The two-wheeler slipped, causing the child and rider to crash onto the road surface. While the driver escaped with minor scrapes, the three-year-old suffered painful injuries and was rushed to a nearby medical facility for emergency care.

Following the mishap, local citizens, business owners, and commuters gathered at the site in large numbers to stage an impromptu demonstration against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and local contractors. Demonstrators shouted slogans, alleging that ongoing road widening and excavation work had been left incomplete without adequate drainage or safety measures, turning the thoroughfare into a hazardous quagmire during recent rains.

Traffic along the busy corridor was temporarily disrupted as protesters demanded immediate restoration work, dust suppression, and proper mud removal along urban passage points. Demonstrators pointed out that multiple minor slips and vehicular swerves had been reported along the same stretch over the past fortnight, yet authorities failed to intervene until a minor was hurt.

Police and civil administration personnel arrived at the scene to mediate with the agitated crowd. Traffic flow was restored after officials provided explicit assurances that heavy machinery would be deployed immediately to clear the accumulation of slush and that safety barriers would be installed along high-risk zones.