By: Ahmad Shabir
Anantnag: Dozens of villages in picturesque Pahalgam in South Kashmir are disconnected for the past one month as a bridge connecting Dachnipora and Khowripora villages was thrown closed for the vehicular movement after it was declared unsafe by the authorities.
The closure of the bridge over Lidder river in Pahalgam has caused immense hardships to the people while the authorities seem reluctant to ensure renovation of the bridge as the work to repair it has not been started yet.
The steel bridge over Lidder river at Sakhras Pahalgam was damaged more than a month ago following which the authorities closed it for the traffic. They erected a signboard reading ‘bridged closed’ to avoid any untoward incident.
The bridge constructed years ago is connecting dozens of villages of Dachnipora and Khowripora areas. To save time and fuel, most of the private transporters would choose the road to make it to their destinations on time.
However, after the bridge suffered the damage, it was subsequently closed for traffic, people of both the areas particularly employees and patients have been facing difficulties.
Before the closure of the bridge, it would take 15 minutes to travel from Srigufwara to Aishmuqam or Seer Hamdan, however, people now have to travel 15 to 20 kms more to reach these places.
A teacher from a village in Dachnipora, who is posted in a village near Aishmuqam in Khowripora said that he has to face agony during the travel to reach his school.
“Before the closure of bridge, it would take me hardly 20 minutes to reach my place of posting but now it takes me more than an hour to reach there,” Ahmad said.
He said that though the authorities had made a diversion across the Lidder for the vehicles to cross the river but more than a week ago that too was washed away by the fast flowing waters forcing the people of two areas to travel long distances to reach their destinations.
Another government employee, Mudasir Ahmad said that they were expecting the authorities concerned to repair the bridge on war footing basis given the fact that it connects two vast areas but after its closure more than a month ago they are yet to start the work on the same.
“The delay in restoring the connectivity is not agonising only the employees but patients from Dachnipora areas as well who have to seek consultation of doctors at SDH Seer Hamdan . We appeal the Lieutenant Governor to look into the matter and ensure that the bridge is repaired without any more delay,” Mudasir said.
Executing Engineer, Roads and Building division Khanabal, Qazi Javed, said that the repair of the steel bridge has to be done by the PC (Project Construction) division and admitted that people have been facing the difficulties due to its closure.
“Officials from PC division have visited the site today and they are perhaps planning to repair the bridge shortly. I think, the work on the same will be started in next few days,” the officer said.
