Danishwar Hameed
Survivors of the 2005 snowstorm in Waltengu Nar, a tribal hamlet in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, are still awaiting the reconstruction of their houses, nearly 19 years after the devastating event.
In 2005, a snowstorm buried 200 houses, trapping 158 residents and injuring several others. Despite the government’s promise to rebuild within a year, only 74 out of the proposed 128 houses have been reconstructed, leaving 54 families homeless.
The residents speaking to The Kashmiriyat expressed frustration, accusing the government of inadequate preparation and response to the disaster.
Mohammad Shafi Cheehi laments the government’s failure to fulfill promises, stating, “Seventeen years is a long time to live without a home. When tragedy unfolded, the government promised big things but did nothing.They let us down.”
The residents claim that despite repeated pleas to expedite the work, the government showed a lax attitude towards the issues.
An official revealed that various factors, including the administration’s inability to manage funding and issues with land availability, contributed to the project’s delay.
Noor Mohammed highlights the unfulfilled promise of houses within a year, emphasizing that after 17 years, only half of the required houses have been built, leaving a significant population homeless.
Government officials acknowledge the challenges, citing funding management issues and land unavailability.
They state that 74 families have been rehabilitated, construction is ongoing for 12 more families, and work is in progress for the remaining 46 families who requested relocation.
Despite the delays, officials express hope in soon shifting the affected families to new apartments.