Portion of Shallabugh link road caves in

Ganderbal, Oct 10: Panic gripped the Paribal-Shallabugh area in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Friday morning after a portion of the Shallabugh link road caved in, creating a deep gorge. Fortunately, no one was present at the spot when the incident occurred.

Locals said the collapse took place suddenly, with a loud bang heard early in the morning.

“We rushed out and saw that a large section of the road had sunk. This road was first constructed in 2007, and for several months, we have been urging the authorities to carry out repairs,” a resident said.

Residents expressed concern over the threat the damaged stretch poses to daily commuters, especially children and the elderly. “This road is vital for schoolchildren, patients, and residents. The collapse has made it unsafe for everyone. We appeal to the administration to restore it immediately before any mishap occurs,” they said.

Following the incident, officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department visited the site to assess the damage. They assured residents that safety and restoration work had been initiated on priority.

“Necessary measures are being taken to restore the road at the earliest. We request people to stay away from the affected area until it is fully repaired,” an official said.