By Muzamil Shah
Kupwara: The only bridge along the route that connects Moulana Anwar Shah Kashmirirs native village, Shah Abad, with the rest of Kupwara district is about to collapse and district administration seems ‘forgotten the place’.
According to Shah Abad villagers they have ‘voluntarily set up a wooden bridge many times to cross the rivulet and is now broken’.
“It is we people of the village who made this bridge and no official, no department has done this,” Bashir Ahmad, a resident told INS.
As temperature begins to dip and winter approaching problems for the villagers will double and ‘crossing the rivulet will be the biggest challenge for all of us’.
“People prefer to stay at home rather than risking their lives during heavy rains. Several villagers got stuck in their homes during flash floods and heavy rains,” Ahmad said.
Residents of Shah Abad complain that they carry building material and other things on their back as the bridge is not in condition to withstand a vehicle.
“We brought this issue to the notice of higher authorities several times but nobody cares,” they said.
The ordeal, which according to the villagers, ‘has become a normal affair’ is that, ‘this bridge is usually washed away with waters and villagers continue to renovate it’.
“But now, due to unavailability of wood the bridge, is not being renovated,” residents said.
The village, which is the native place of world renowned Islamic scholar Moulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri and many people throng the place to visit the grave of Anwar Shah Kashmiri’s father.
Itrat Bashir, a teacher told INS, : “It is very difficult for pregnant ladies and ailing villagers to travel on the non-motor able road. Sometimes it becomes the question of life and death for the pregnant ladies.”
“Students including primary standard students have to cross this dangerous bridge to reach their respective schools,” Bashir said.
Appealing government to construct a bridge ‘as soon as possible’ they say ‘it has now become a threat to our lives.’
“I have recently joined here and I will look into the matter why the bridge is yet not constructed in Shah Abad Warnow,” Executive Engineer R&B Kupwara Er Gurdab said.
