Three years & counting, Handwara twin bridges still incomplete

Handwara, June 14: The residents of Batagund, Mawar, and Langate in Handwara are increasingly anxious about the potential for a Gandabal-like tragedy, as the twin bridges “Daand Kadal” (Bulls Bridge) in Langate and the Batagund Bridge remain inoperative after being washed away three years and one year ago, respectively. The situation forces locals to perilously cross the fast-flowing Nallah Mawar.
According to local residents, the Batagund Bridge was damaged three years ago and subsequently closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Although the administration at the time assured prompt restoration, the bridge remains incomplete three years later.
Executive Engineer of the R&B Division Langate, Gulzar Ahmad, assured that work on the Batagund Bridge is ongoing and it will be made motorable within the next two months, with completion expected by November this year. Regarding the iconic Daand Kadal in Langate, Ahmad stated that there is currently no plan for it but efforts are being made to include it in a future project.
Meanwhile, locals allege that despite some initial work by the contractor, the project has been abandoned. They claim that daily crossings over the Nallah Mawar pose significant risks, with two individuals having been injured in the past while traversing the damaged bridge. “Previously, people were able to cross the bridge, but the contractor damaged the slab of the already damaged bridge, posing a greater threat to those who walk over it,” a local resident stated, questioning why the slab was damaged if there were no immediate plans to complete the bridge.
Imtiyaz Ahmad, a resident, told Rising Kashmir that during the first few months after the bridge’s closure, they were unable to send their children to school on the other side. “Currently, we are risking our lives to send them to school. Either we have to keep them at home or take the risk to send them to school,” he lamented.
Similar grievances were voiced by the residents of Langate, who reported that despite promises of swift restoration following the bridge’s damage a year ago, no progress has been made. Although the R&B department issued tenders for repairs, the bridge remains in disrepair. “Our land is situated on the other side of the bridge, and we have no other option but to take long routes to reach our agricultural fields. A few minutes’ journey is taking hours,” said Aijaz Ahmad, a Langate resident.
The people in this area claim that the authorities in Kupwara district are waiting for a Gandabal-like incident before addressing the issue. They recall the Gandabal tragedy, where six people drowned due to the absence of a bridge over the river Jhelum, warning that a similar disaster could occur if the twin bridges are not completed soon.
The residents’ plea remains urgent: “If these bridges are not completed soon, we fear a repeat of the Gandabal tragedy,” they warn, urging the authorities to take immediate action.