Baramulla : Washed away by flash floods, a footbridge at Hardu Chanam in Baramulla’s Rafiabad village still awaits completion with locals facing hardship to commute.
locals said that the bridge over Nallah Hamal collapsed several years ago due to flash flood but the authorities haven’t taken up its repair so far.
They said the authorities built a temporary bridge over the Nallah but that too was damaged in 2021, making it unsafe.
“It’s a matter of concern as there lies every apprehension of any untoward incident as the bridge over Nallah Hamal connects High School, Chanam. Students have to cross the Nallah on a daily basis,” said a local, demanding the bridge be repaired at the earliest.
Another local said the authorities should have repaired the bridge for the safety of people especially students but they seem to wait for an accident to happen.
They however, urged the Lieutenant Governor led administration to look into the matter, so that it could give a sigh of relief to them.
An assistant executive engineer, roads and buildings (R&B) department, Watergam when contacted told KNO that the said bridge was constructed by the Block (Rural development department) and doesn’t pertain to them.
Block Development Officer (BDO), Dangiwacha Abdul Rashid said that the footbridge construction has been delayed due to lack of funds. “Once the funds will be allocated, the construction process will start”, he said—(KNO)
