Srinagar boat tragedy: IIOJK authorities’ apathy result of disaster, say residents
Srinagar: People in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have expressed strong resentment over the authorities’ apathy towards constructing a footbridge over river Jhelum in Srinagar where six persons including school going children lost their lives after the boat they were boarded in capsized in the river the other day.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the boat ferrying 15 persons capsized at Gandbal in Batwara area of Srinagar, resulting in six deaths while three are still missing.
The tragic incident triggered massive anger in public and political circles of IIOJK, who held the occupation authorities responsible for failing to provide safety and well-being of locals in the area by not prioritizing the construction of the footbridge. According to reports, the bridge was sanctioned in 2011.
The residents of the area slammed the authorities for their pathetic outlook and inability to finish constructing the footbridge. The people while lamenting the inordinate delay in the construction of the footbridge said, “Had it been constructed on time many precious lives could have been saved”.
They said, “It has been over seven years since we are waiting for the bridge. Though the work was taken up in 2016, but it was stopped time and again in a gradual time. In 2019 the work was again started but stopped after few weeks without any concrete reason”. They pointed out that the area was the worst hit by administrative exploitation.
“We lost our kids due to official apathy. Who will return our beloved sons back to us? Let the administration to kill all of us today as what for we live in this world now,” a wailing woman said, and added, “Had authorities constructed this footbridge on time many precious lives could have been saved today”.
“The bridge construction has dragged on for years,” said Shabir Ahmed, a resident of the area. “Locals are forced to use boats to cross the river. If the bridge had been completed, this tragedy could have been avoided.”
Abdul Rashid, another local, said that the work was going at snail pace for the last seven years and the residents had taken-up this issue with the authorities a couple of times. “However, despite repeated pleas there was no positive response,” Rashid said.
