Sochalyari village left in digital, developmental darkness

Kupwara, Oct 12: Residents of Sochalyari village in north Kashmir’s Handwara sub-division have expressed strong resentment against the authorities for failing to provide even basic amenities, leaving the area grappling with multiple hardships.

Locals said that the village, just 30 kilometres from Handwara, remains cut off from the digital world due to the absence of mobile connectivity.

“While the rest of Kashmir enjoys 5G internet, we don’t even have basic network coverage. We have to walk several kilometres to find a spot where our phones catch a signal, especially during emergencies,” said Bashir Ahmad, a resident.

He added that students are the worst affected, unable to access online resources or prepare for competitive exams due to the lack of connectivity. “Those preparing for SSRB exams suffer immensely because they can’t access study material or updates online,” he said.

The residents also complained about the poor condition of the road linking the village to Handwara, saying it remains dilapidated, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Adding to their woes, the decades-old water pipeline has developed cracks, depriving locals of clean drinking water. “We have been drinking contaminated water for years. The pipeline was laid around 40 years ago and hasn’t been repaired since,” said another villager.

Locals further lamented the shortage of medicines at the local health sub-centre. “Although an employee is posted here, we are forced to travel to Tarathpora for even basic medical needs,” they said.

The residents have appealed to Deputy Commissioner Kupwara and the concerned departments to intervene urgently and address the long-pending grievances of Sochalyari without further delay.