Aatif Qayoom
Handwara, Jul 16 (KNS): Decades passed but there seems no end to the hardships faced by the inhabitants of Batchatri villagers in Handwara area due to the absence of a bridge over Mawer Nallah in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

The absence of bridge has given a tough time to the residents as either they have to cross the rivulet or took a long root to reach Handwara Town. “Youngsters somehow manage to cross but the patients, school kids, old age persons suffer a lot as they cannot cross the rivulet on daily basis,” said Jabar Ahmad.

If the bridge would be constructed it will cut short the long hour distance to few minutes and connect dozens of villages to Handwara town. “Due to communication constraints we are deprived of basic emergency services like fire tenders and ambulances in times of need,” Jabar said.

In month of April this year Mother, daughter drowned in the nallah while crossing the river when they were on way to their relative’s home and were immediately rescued by locals, “It has become a death trap for us as in last few years we lost three lives of our loved ones,” he said.

Over the years, scores of men and women have sustained injuries and fractures while crossing over the rivulet on a wooden Plank in absence of this bridge. “There are so many incidents of injuries to mostly children’s and women’s, such accidents could have been avoided, if this bridge had been constructed so far,” the locals said.

People prefer to stay at home rather than risking their lives during heavy rains. Several villagers got stuck in their homes during flash floods and heavy rains, as it becomes difficult to cross on the river on a wooden Plank.

According to the locals, Roads and Buildings department (R&B) has failed to construct bridge from decades, another local resident told Kashmir News Service that demand for a bridge in village has been pending since 1947’s but no government till date has been able to construct a bridge.

“All politicians, bureaucrats, and even concerned MLA turned deaf ears to our demands and nothing has changed on the ground,” said Tariq Ahmad.

The bridge will connect many villages including Utingro, Tantray Gund and other villages.

Locals said that every day, dozens of students, employees, laborers, and patients cross the stream on risk and when it rains it becomes ‘dreadful’ life for us.

The residents were demanding special intervention of J&K Governor in this Regard. (KNS)