Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 29: Residents of Mir Behri in the interiors of Dal Lake today raised serious concerns over the dilapidated condition of a decades-old wooden bridge that connects at least 15 hamlets and is crucial for the daily commute of nearly 4,000 people.
The locals said that the bridge, which has not been repaired in years, poses a grave threat to public safety, especially with the upcoming 9th Muharram procession that attracts thousands of mourners.
The long wooden bridge, built in three sections, links the main road to Batamohalla, then to Gutmohalla and Balmohalla, and finally to Tindmohalla. It is the only connection for residents in these water-bound hamlets to essential services, schools, markets, and religious destinations.
Locals say the bridge is around 25 years old and has only been repaired once-by the residents themselves. “It connects to the famous floating market and is used by school children, women, and the elderly every day. On 9th Muharram, a huge religious procession crosses this bridge. We fear it would not withstand the load, and there could be a disaster,” Nasir Hussain, a local, said.
The residents explained that a Muharram procession begins in Kandmohalla, passes through several interior hamlets, and reaches Hassanabad in Rainwara, crossing the damaged bridge. Mushtaq Hussain from Tindmohalla said mourners face extreme hardship due to the lack of maintenance. “Earlier, some repairs were done before Muharram, but since 2019, nothing has been done. The bridge has sustained complete damage,” he said.
Ghulam Rasool Akhoon, another resident, added, “We have lived in these pathetic conditions for seven decades. Successive Governments have kept us like prisoners. We submitted demand charts to Ministers and MLAs. We told them to carry out even emergency work, but they did nothing. Only the Lakes, Conservation and Management Authority cleaned the channels-connectivity has remained ignored.”
Locals urged the LG administration to take immediate action and repair the bridge before 9th Muharram. “We appeal to the government to fix this bridge in time to avoid any tragedy,” said the residents collectively.
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