Karnah’s call to candidates: Build Sadhana tunnel, upgrade hospital, & tourism or face voter wrath

As Jammu and Kashmir braces for assembly elections, starting on September 18th and concluding on October 1st, the residents of Karnah in Kupwara District are vocalising their demands, hoping for a leader who will fulfill long-standing promises.
Their main demands among others include construction of the Sadhana Tunnel, a project that has been a fixture of political promises for decades. Residents emphasize the importance of year-round connectivity for the border town, which remains isolated for half the year due to harsh weather conditions.
Zubair Ahmad, a local resident, stressed the need for an upgrade to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Tangdar, which currently has only 30 beds. “We need a 100-bed facility, given our remote location and the long travel times to reach better-equipped hospitals in Kupwara,” he said. The community also calls for modernization to ensure adequate medical services.
Beyond infrastructure, the residents are pushing for the development of cricket grounds in various villages within Karnah, and they see significant potential in boosting tourism. However, they argue that the current verification and permission processes are cumbersome and need streamlining to attract more visitors.
With 57,951 voters in the Karnah constituency ready to cast their ballots on October 1st, the message is clear: they want action, not just promises. The Sadhana Tunnel, hospital upgrades, and tourism development are at the forefront of their concerns, and they expect their next leader to deliver on these critical issues.