Uncovered, uneven manholes continue to endanger lives in Srinagar

Srinagar, Oct 22: Open and uneven manholes across Srinagar have turned into silent traps for residents, posing a grave risk to pedestrians and commuters alike. The commuters and locals said that in areas like Downtown , uptown pockets of the city, and even in the city centre, the problem continues to pose serious safety concerns among citizens.

Locals say that in several areas including Nigeen, Hazratbal, Downtown and city center, open manholes have become a daily hazard. They said many are either missing covers or have sunken lids, which are turning roads and footpaths into accident-prone spots.

“You never know where the next danger lies. These manholes are either left open or covered with makeshift materials as lids. It’s like walking on a minefield,” said Sahil Ahmad, a shopkeeper from Downtown.

Locals said that in Hazratbal ares like Nigeen, manholes near the main road has remained uncovered for long. “We keep warning passersby, especially in the evening hours when visibility is low. A small mistake could lead to a major accident,” said Muneer Ahmed, a resident of the locality.

Commuters said that the situation is equally grim in uptown areas “Many manholes have either sunk into the road surface or are unevenly placed. For bikers, they’re death traps where one misstep can end you up in accident,” said Faisal Ahmed, a motorcyclist.

Greater Kashmir has reported extensively on the issue over the past few years, highlighting repeated thefts of manhole covers and the slow pace of repairs. Despite multiple interventions, residents say that the fixes rarely last. “The same spot along MA and Residency road has been replaced with new manholes multiple times in the past one year. Each time, the cover goes missing again. We never know when we will wake up to the missing manhole yet again,” said a vendor at Lal-Chowk.

Officials acknowledge that thefts of manhole covers have become a recurring challenge. A senior official from Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) said that the department has been continuously replacing and monitoring manholes under its jurisdiction. “We are aware of the issue and have replaced covers at several vulnerable points. In some places, the covers have been stolen multiple times, and we have same to concerned authorities. Our teams are regularly inspecting and addressing such spots,” the official said.

Residents have urged authorities to conduct a city-wide audit of all manholes and install durable, tamper-proof covers. “We need proper barricades, reflective warning signs, and stronger covers. Until then, every road remains a potential trap,” said Shabir Bhat, a commuter.