Residents of Boniyar area of Baramulla rue suspension of passenger vehicle service

Baramulla, July 7: The remote hamlet of Bujthala Boniyar in Baramulla district is grappling with severe hardship following the suspension of passenger vehicle services.

This measure was imposed after a tragic road accident on January 31 that claimed the lives of 10 passengers when a sumo vehicle plunged into a deep gorge. All the victims were relatives.

Despite six months of the tragedy, the village is struggling to recover. Instead of receiving relief, residents now face an undeclared suspension of bus services, exacerbating their distress and plunging them into unending hardships. This suspension has significantly impacted the hamlet, which already suffers from poverty.

Ghulam Rasool Mir, a local resident, while recounting the ordeal, said that the passenger vehicle service to the area has been halted since the accident. "A road mishap should not lead to the deprivation of essential services like passenger transport," said Ghulam Rasool Mir.

He further added that following recent torrential rains, a house in the area collapsed, and injured persons had to be taken to the hospital on shoulders due to the lack of vehicular movement.

The Tathamula to Bujthala Boniyar road, a 7-kilometre stretch, is macadamised but dangerously narrow and steep, posing significant risks, especially during winter.

An official acknowledged the dangers of operating passenger vehicles on this route, suggesting the need for road widening and measures to reduce its steepness.

Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Baramulla, Mouazam Ahmad, said he was unaware of the service suspension. He said that after the fatal accident, transporters were instructed to operate three new vehicles not older than five years.

However, president Baramulla Sumo Stand Irshad Ahmad said that challenges including a lack of fresh vehicles and a written permission for the transport operation in the area is a huge hurdle.

The suspension has forced locals to carry essential supplies like rice over long distances on their shoulders, highlighting their daily struggles.