Makeshift wooden bridge poses threat to Lolab villagers

Kupwara, Nov 21: The residents of Afan in Lolab area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have expressed strong resentment against authorities for failing to construct a concrete bridge over Afan-Lolab Nallah with the result they are subjected to enduring hardships.

The residents said that they have constructed a makeshift wooden bridge to meet the challenges. "Every year we are supposed to pool funds for repairment of this makeshift bridge as it gets damaged due to flashfloods in the Nallah," said a local said.

“The wooden bridge being used to cross the nallah poses a threat to the people. Children, elderly and women feel insecure while moving on this bridge. We are suffering badly in the absence of a proper concrete bridge,” he said. The residents said that their children face most of the brunt as they have to cross this bridge every day because the school they are enrolled in happens to be located on the other side of Nallah.

"We remain apprehensive about the wellbeing of our children every day because this wooden bridge does not have railings on either side. Till date four children of our village have drowned to death after they fell into this Nallah," the residents added.

"Our village consists of over hundred households still we have been left to severe hardships. The successive dispensations have failed to mitigate our problems," said a local.

The residents said that they have brought this issue into the notice of concerned officials numerous times but to no avail.

Meanwhile Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Lolab Qaiser Jamsheed Lone told Greater Kashmir that he will take up the issue with the concerned department and if possible he will provide funds from CDF for construction of a concrete bridge so that the hardships being faced by people may end.