Rajouri, August 2: Inhabitants of the Guleer hamlet in the Raj Nagar block in Rajouri district have been demanding a suspension footbridge on a rivulet between Gabber village and Guleer hamlet for the past 10 years, but their demand has remained unaddressed.
“On Saturday, a man carried his son on his back to cross the flooded rivulet thus putting life at a high risk,” said Rizwan Baig, an eyewitness.
He said many schoolchildren and locals waited for the water to recede but many youth and middle-aged persons crossed the rivulet.
More than 500 people living in the Guleer hamlet are fully dependent on the markets, schools and government offices situated at Gabbar and Budhal towns and they cross the rivulet daily.
“Even during other seasons, parents help their children cross the rivulet for their schooling at Budhal, about eight kilometre from Guleer, and at Gabbar,” said Rizwan.
“The issue of a bridge was raised several times with former MLA Zulfikar Ali and the district administration but no action was taken,” said Farooq Inqalabi, an eminent social and political worker of the area.
A suspension bridge would cost about Rs 15 lakh, but the state government had neglected the poor people of the area, he added.
“The matter was not in my notice. It will be taken up with the higher authorities so that the project to construct the suspension bridge can be sanctioned at the earliest,” said MA Asad, Deputy Commissioner. He added that the people should avoid risking their lives to cross the rivulet during floods.
