Ganderbal, March 14: Residents of Haripora Baila village in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district are living under constant fear due to dangerously exposed electrical wiring, which has turned their neighbourhood into a potential death trap. In the absence of proper infrastructure, high-voltage power lines hang precariously from tree branches, rooftops and crude wooden poles, creating an ever-present risk of electrocution or fire.
Despite repeated pleas to the Power Development Department (PDD), no substantial action has been taken to resolve the problem. Villagers say the situation has persisted for years, with little intervention from the authorities.
Residents are particularly worried about the safety of their children, who unknowingly play near the dangerously low-hanging wires. Manzoor Ahmad, a local farmer, said he dreads letting his children step outside. “The wires are barely above our heads. Just last month, a cow received a shock after touching one of the loose wires. The authorities will only act once a disaster strikes,” he said.
Another resident, Shabir Hussain, pointed out that during heavy rainfall or snowfall, the crude support structures holding the wires become unstable, increasing the risk of them snapping.
“In winters, these wires sag even more under the weight of snow. Sometimes, we have to use wooden sticks to lift them out of the way. This is no way to live,” he lamented. Electricity was first introduced to Haripora Baila in 2014, but villagers say they never received proper infrastructure to support the power supply. A transformer was installed a few years ago, but in the absence of metallic electric poles, residents had no choice but to rely on makeshift arrangements.
“We pay our electricity bills every month, yet we don’t even have basic facilities. Other villages have proper electric poles, but here, we are still stuck with wires hanging from trees and wooden logs,” said Bilal Sheikh, another resident.
The ageing power lines, coupled with the lack of support structures, have left the village in an extremely vulnerable state. Locals fear that a strong windstorm or heavy snowfall could bring the live wires crashing down, leading to a catastrophe. Residents claim that they have approached the PDD office multiple times, urging officials to install proper electric poles, but their concerns have largely been ignored.
“Each time we complain, we are told that the issue will be resolved soon. But ‘soon’ never comes,” said Mohammad Yousuf, an elderly resident. When contacted, a PDD official acknowledged the issue and assured that the department is working on a plan to address the problem. “We are aware of the situation in Haripora Baila. The department has already proposed the installation of new electric poles in the area. We will try to expedite the process,” the official said. However, residents remain sceptical, fearing that these assurances will meet the same fate as previous unfulfilled promises. For now, the villagers of Haripora Baila continue to live under a web of dangling death traps, hoping that authorities will act before it’s too late.
