Srinagar residents demand action as uncovered, damaged manholes pose safety risks

Srinagar, May 14: Residents across Srinagar have raised growing concern over uncovered manholes throughout the city, posing serious safety risks to pedestrians and motorists alike. The open manholes, described by locals as “death traps”, have already led to numerous accidents and injuries, particularly in areas with high foot traffic or poor lighting.
Locals from various areas, such as Batmaloo, Naseem Bagh, Rajbagh, Hazratbal, Habbak, Barbar Shah, Nowhatta, Safakadal, and Downtown, have expressed concern about the exposed manholes on roads and footpaths. These uncovered manholes, found in both busy streets and quieter residential areas, have become a common sight, creating a dangerous environment for commuters — especially children and the elderly. “Manholes are meant to prevent road flooding, but they are now becoming a major risk,” said Muneeb Qadri, a concerned resident of Habbak. “From Hazratbal to Habbak Budshah Gate, about a dozen manholes are uncovered, creating an unsafe environment for commuters.”
Zubair Ahmed, a commuter from Residency Road, added, “Residency Road is a central artery in Srinagar, and still, multiple manholes are uncovered. If this is the condition here, what must it be like in more remote areas?” Many locals have highlighted that the issue is even more concerning in areas with poor lighting or insufficient street lamps, making it nearly impossible for pedestrians and motorists to spot uncovered manholes, especially at night.
“In the evenings, walking through these streets becomes a gamble. You never know when you might step into a trap,” said Abdul Qayoom, a resident of Safakadal. “The authorities need to act before someone loses their life.” Mehwish Wani, a student from Nowhatta, recalled a recent incident involving her younger brother. “He was walking home after tuition when he tripped into an open manhole hidden by overgrown weeds. Thankfully, a passerby helped him out, but this could have ended very differently.” Iftikhar Hussain, a resident from Hazratbal, voiced similar concerns, “Children and the elderly walk these roads every day. In the evenings, it becomes even more dangerous due to insufficient street lighting. While funds are being spent on building roads, safety is being ignored.”
The issue is further compounded during rainfall, when roads become waterlogged, making the open manholes even harder to detect. Several vehicles have reportedly been stuck or damaged after falling into these manholes. The situation worsens during rainfall when roads become waterlogged, making it harder to detect open manholes. Several vehicles have reportedly been stuck or damaged after falling into them. “When it rains, you can’t even tell if there’s a manhole ahead. The water covers everything, and people unknowingly step into them. I saw a pedestrian fall into one a few weeks back near Khanyar,” said Sameer Lone, a resident of Downtown Srinagar. “Two-wheelers are most at risk. I’ve seen a bike fall right into an open manhole outside Barbar Shah. Luckily, the rider jumped off in time, or else it would’ve been fatal,” added Muneer Khan, a local in the area.
To mitigate the risk, locals have resorted to temporary fixes, such as placing wooden planks, bricks, sticks, or even bags over the open manholes to alert commuters. However, these makeshift solutions have done little to address the ongoing safety concerns. “These temporary fixes are not safe,” said Basharat Ahmad, a resident of Gojwara. “While we try to warn others, this is not a permanent solution. The authorities need to take responsibility for these uncovered manholes.”
Responding to these concerns, a senior Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) official, requesting anonymity, acknowledged the issue and assured that the department is actively working on it. “We understand the public’s concern and are addressing it. Many of the open manholes are related to ongoing infrastructure work, including underground cabling. We’ve initiated repairs wherever possible, and our teams are surveying other areas to ensure all dangers are dealt with promptly.”
As authorities continue to address the issue, residents urge quicker action to resolve the problem of uncovered manholes, which remain a significant risk to public safety.