Dozens of villages cut off as authorities shut 3 vital bridges in Kupwara

DC says step taken for safety of people as bridges had suffered damages; ‘Repair work will be accelerated once water level recedes’

DC says step taken for safety of people as bridges had suffered damages; ‘Repair work will be accelerated once water level recedes’

Handwara May 03 (KNS): The authorities have closed at least three vital bridged in the past few months in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district after they suffered damages, thereby leaving dozens of villages disconnected from district headquarters. 

Locals told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that in May last year Batagund bridge in Langate Mawer was closed after a portion of bridge suffered damage due to incessant rains followed by flash floods, leaving more than dozens of villages disconnected. 

Similarly, two weeks ago a bridge over Nallah Mawer, in Lanagte locally known as “Daand Kadal” that connects more than 20 villages was also closed for public movement as it developed a partial damage due to intermittent rainfall. 

In another similar instance, an old iron bridge built in British era in Shoolara village of Vilgam, was also closed after a portion of it got damaged due to flash floods.

Due to the closure of this historical bridge, locals claimed that dozens of villages, have been cut off, leaving them with no option but to find alternate routes. 

The closure of bridges in these villages have made residents suffer a lot as they have to travel extra miles to reach their destinations. 
 
Locals said that it takes authorities few minutes to declare bridges unsafe, but it takes them years to repair the same. “We know they are doing this for our safety to avoid any untoward incident, but administration should also make contractors and department concerned accountable for these damages. Work on the bridges should also be expedited so as to bring relief to residents,” they said. 

Deputy commissioner Kupwara Dr Doifode Sagar Dattatray told KNS that the closure of bridges is temporary and alternative routes have also been notified to avoid any inconvenience to public.

“The bridges have suffered some minor damages due to recent flash floods but the movement over these bridges have been restricted for the safety of people, which is always our first priority,” he said. 

He added that once water level recedes, work on these bridges will be accelerated and bridges will be made operational at an earliest. (KNS)

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