Handwara, July 09: In a tragic road accident, a family of four lost their lives while travelling to a nearby area to fetch drinking water. Little did they know that they would never return to their village in Rajpora, Handwara.
According to residents, the people of this area travel half a kilometre daily to fetch drinking water, as the authorities have miserably failed to provide adequate water facilities. This village is approximately 20 kilometers away from the main town of Handwara, despite the administration’s tall claims under the Jal Jeevan Mission. There are no tap water facilities available in this village.
On the fateful evening, four family members took their vehicle to fetch drinking water. When they didn’t return, their worried relatives went to the spot and found their vehicle had overturned. All family members were found critically injured. When recovered, they were unconscious and subsequently taken to a nearby hospital, where they were declared dead by the doctors.
The entire community is engulfed in grief. “Had the administration made any arrangements for a drinking water facility in this remote village, this tragedy could have been averted,” said one villager.
The deceased included Ghulam Rasool Bhat (55), Tahir Ahmad Bhat (25), Shabnam Ara (20), and Rifat Ara (17) .
Locals expressed their frustration and sorrow, having protested numerous times in the past. Instead of receiving drinking water facilities, the authorities met them with baton charges. “Every time administration, officials and politicians visit this village, they promise that the water supply will be restored by next month. But when will this happen? Nobody knows,” said another grieving villager.
As soon as the four family members were buried, the residents took to the streets and blocked the road for a long time, demanding the immediate restoration of the water facility to their village. They warned that further tragedies could occur, as the villagers have no option other than to travel this perilous route to find drinking water, or else face death from thirst.
Soon after the incident, Additional Deputy Commissioner Handwara, Aziz Ahmad Rather, and SDPO Handwara visited the spot and assured the residents that they would take up the matter with higher officials to address the water issues.
The residents pointed out that several schemes were executed in the area, but they did not last long, and large amounts of money were withdrawn against these projects.
In the wake of this heart-wrenching tragedy and the ensuing backlash, the authorities have begun installing drinking water facilities in the area. The sorrow and anger of the residents have finally spurred action, but the question remains: why did it take such a devastating loss of life to prompt a response?
