The residents of Wurbagh village in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district are yearning for a footbridge for the last six years, which could connect at least seven villages.
The work on the footbridge was started after the then People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Muhammad Khalil Bandh visited the area in 2016, but the same was never completed.
A couple of days back, the dilapidated wooden footbridge collapsed due to the flood waters disconnecting at least half-a-dozen neighboring villages.
Abdul Gani Bhat, an elderly man from the village, told news agency Kashmir News Trust that the bridge is a lifeline for the natives as it connects them to the rest of the district.”
“Politicians made promises that turn lip service only. The work on the bridge was stopped mid-way due to the reasons better known to the administration,” he added.
Another local Javaid Ahmed said that they took up the matter with the concerned officials, however, nothing changed on the ground.
The residents reiterated their demand stating the bridge be completed at the earliest so that the village’s connectivity with the adjoining areas and the rest of the district are restored.
When contacted, Muhammad Iqbal, Tehsildar Pulwama, said that the concerned department will be informed about the dilapidated state of the footbridge. “I will speak to the concerned department and get it repaired,” he claimed. (KNT)