Srinagar, March 27: Even after passing of more than two months, the 8-kilometre Thajal-Charunda road in north Kashmir’s Uri connecting dozens of villages is still blocked due to landslides.
The residents said the vital link road has remained blocked for the past two months, causing immense inconvenience and problems for pregnant women, patients and students.
Lal Hussain Kohli, a resident, said the PMGY department has failed to make the road motorable, evoking widespread resentment from the locals. We face problems each day and no one is listening to us,” he said.
“Landslides and mud have enveloped the road. Even the pedestrians are not able to walk on the unfortunate route. The road has become a source of daily inconvenience especially for children and elderly,” he said.
Kohli, who is also a social activist, says apart from this road, electricity remained off during the holy Ramdhan. Water supply is affected.
“We appeal to the LG Manoj Sinha led administration to look into this issue, so that road will be restored as soon as possible,” he added.
Ajaz Ahmad, another resident said that it is March and all the major roads are open but unfortunately the link road has faced neglect from the authorities.
“Last week, we had to carry a pregnant lady on our shoulders to reach the hospital in Uri. Students had to walk for several hours to reach the GDC Uri, but no one is coming to our rescue,” he said.
Demanding immediate opening of the road, the residents appealed to the R&B Department and concerned higher ups to undertake immediate restoration work so that people have a sigh of relief.
However, Executive Engineer PMGSY Uri division, Zahoor Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that restoration work is underway on the road. The road has been blocked due to multiple landslides triggered by rain in February.
“Men and machinery are on the job to restore the vital link before the Eid ul Fitr. We are committed to the welfare of people. The department has charted out a plan of action to connect the road as soon as possible,” Zahoor said.
He also said that maintaining the cost of this road is higher than the construction cost. Actually this falls under the zone of landslide prone areas and it often gets blocked due to light rains, EE Zahoor said.