Wahid Rafeeqi

Srinagar, Mar 14 (KNS):The road leading to the famous shrine in Ahamsharief village and tourist destination at Athwatoo village in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district is in a dilapidated condition.

Residents said the road has not been repaired since last more than three years.

“The condition of the road is getting worse day by day. It is marked by potholes and it has become very difficult for us to commute on the road between Bandipora and Athwatoo village,” said Mohd Yousyf , a resident of Ahamsharief.

Locals added that they sought help of army to repair the stretch of road near kawtari mode after a portion of a wall collapsed.

“The condition of the road is worse near Bilal colony , Check Reshipora and Ahamsharief,.” they told KNS.

The road leading to the famous shrine of Hazrat Sultan-ul-Arifeen, Sheikh Hamzah Makhdoom Sahib (RA)at Ahamsharief village is in dilapidated condition.

“The road which leads to Ziyarat Sharief right from Bandipora is in a shambles and gives tough time to commuters. The shrine is thronged by hundreds of devotees on various occasions like Eid Shab-i-Qadr. Hundreds of people on every Friday also visit the shrine,” a resident said.

The residents say they have raised the issue with authorities many times but nothing has happened so far.

They appealed the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora to repair the road on priority .

Ahead of Ahamsharief shrine, the road leads to the famous tourist spot of Athwatoo which is thronged by many during summers and has attracted a substantial number of tourists for about a decade now.

Athwatoo is located on the foothills of Harmukh Mountains, surrounded by serene and thick forests besides crystalline water gushing down the slopes.

However, according to locals, the road leading the tourist destination is in complete shambles due to the official negligence.

Commuters say the road is in bad condition particularly near Bilal Colony, Panar and Upper Panar as the road has developed huge cracks and potholes.(KNS)