Uri villagers suffer due to closure of vital road for over 5 months

Srinagar, Aug 31: Residents of Bani Mohalla and Mir Mohalla in Daragutliyan village of Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have expressed resentment over the closure of a vital link road for the past 5 months.

Locals told Greater Kashmir that Khater to Bani Mohalla link road (1.5 kilometres) has been inaccessible since it was washed away by landslides triggered by heavy rains.

“Khater to Bani Mohalla link road has been closed for five months, and no authorities have taken any action to address the issue. The residents are suffering immensely,” said Kareemullah Batie, Numberdar of Daragutliyan village.

Kanda Mir, another resident highlighted the difficulties in transporting essential supplies to their homes due to the road closure.

“We have to carry essential items on our shoulders, which is challenging. Additionally, transporting patients, especially pregnant women to the hospital has become very tough. We demand the immediate opening of the road,” he said.

Residents of Mir Mohalla in the village are also facing various difficulties due to the road closure.

On August 1, the villagers wrote to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla regarding the issue. The DC asked the Chief Planning Officer (CPO) Baramulla to examine the matter, who subsequently instructed the Superintending Engineer (SE) R&B Circle Baramulla to take appropriate action. The SE then forwarded the matter to the Executive Engineer R&B Division Uri.

“Although officials from the R&B department visited the village, no concrete action has been taken so far,” the locals said.

When contacted Fayaz Ahmad Kumar, Executive Engineer R&B Uri said that he will look into the matter.