Pulwama, Jun 15: Residents of Tahab village in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district have appealed the authorities of Roads and Buildings (R&B) department to urgently repair a partially collapsed bridge that has become a hazard for the commuters.
The local residents said that the bridge, situated over an irrigation canal in the village’s main market, has been in disrepair for a month, following a partial collapse.
Bilal Ahmad Zai, a local resident, explained that the bridge, which is around twenty years old, is a critical link along the Pulwama-Lassipora road.
“The road connects with Industrial Growth Centre in Lassipora and National Highway, and hundreds of heavy vehicles, including dumpers, use it daily. The constant movement of these loaded vehicles has caused significant wear and tear, leading to the collapse of a portion of the bridge,” said Zai.
He added that the damaged section of the bridge poses a serious risk to commuters.
“No warning signs have been erected to alert people of the potential danger,” Zai said, highlighting a recent incident where a biker narrowly escaped an accident at the site.
The residents said that for the past month, despite the bridge’s condition, the R&B department has remained unresponsive, failing to address the urgent safety concerns of the residents.
The villagers are now appealing to higher authorities in the R&B department to dispatch a team of engineers for a safety review and to prepare a repair report.
They have also urged the Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama to address their grievance promptly.
Executive Engineer R&B Pulwama, Javid Ahmad Dar, informed Rising Kashmir that the structure is, in fact, a culvert built by the Irrigation and Flood Control (IFC) department around thirty years ago.
“The culvert has outlived its service period,” he said.
The Executive Engineer mentioned that he has visited the site and prepared an estimate for the necessary repairs.
“The estimate report has been forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner of Pulwama and the Chief Engineer of the R&B department. We will commence repairs as soon as funds are made available,” he added.
