Sajid Raina
Bandipora, July 28: Residents of several villages of the Naidkhai area in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday alleged that they are facing immense hardships due to the non-availability of a footbridge over the nallah-e-Parihaspora.
Around 56 kilometres away from district headquarters Baramulla a village named Watal Hanji (Gulabwari), along nallah Parihaspora situated in the north Kashmir’s Bandipora district is craving for a foot-bridge.
According to locals, bridge over nallah Parihaspora is the only mode of connectivity between two villages of twin north Kashmir districts-Watal Hanji and Gohal Tengpora.
Watal Hanji is situated in Bandipora district while Gohal Tengpora is situated in Baramulla district.
Residents of Gohal Tengpora, Magraypora of Pattan tehsil and Watal Hanji and Bathipora, situated either sides of nallah Parihaspora on Tuesday said that they were facing immense hardships due to non-availability of a foot bridge over the nallah.
Talking to the news agency— the residents of Bathipora, Watal Hanji, Gohal Chaku and Tengpora said that due to non-availability of a foot bridge over the nallah they are forced to choose a long alternate route.
They said that in the past they have many times put forth this demand before the concerned authorities but till date nothing has been done to mitigate their sufferings.
The residents said that the only way to cross the fast flowing nallah is by a boat to reach to the respective destinations and they have to cross over to the other by a boat which remains available from 7:00 am to 9:30 pm.
Shabir Ahmad who rows the boat to ferry passengers from either side of the nallah from dawn to dusk said there is always the danger of drowning while crossing the fast flowing nallah as sometimes the water level is very high.
“Non-availability of a vital foot bridge is causing immense hardships to the inhabitants, living on both sides of the nallah. The residents have to either take a 6 km long alternative route or cross over the nallah via boat to reach their respective destinations,” he said.
The villagers appealed to the deputy commissioner Bandipora to personally intervene in the matter and fulfill this long pending demand—(KNO)
