Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, July 8: The National Highway connecting Rajouri and Poonch remained blocked for nearly two hours in Irwan Khanetar near Gambhir, as locals held a strong protest against the alleged negligence of construction agencies involved in the highway project.
The protest was triggered after the house of Mohammad Sadiq, located adjacent to the highway, suffered serious damage due to falling debris from the ongoing road construction site. Debris from excavation and construction activities reportedly slided down onto the residential structure, posing a grave threat to the lives of the inhabitants.
Enraged over the incident, residents of the area gathered on the highway and blocked vehicular movement in both directions, accusing the project execution firms of endangering civilian lives despite repeated complaints and warnings. Protesters claimed that the firms have failed to implement proper safety measures, even though locals have time and again raised concerns over unplanned blasting and earth-cutting.
“People living along the highway are living under constant fear. The agencies are playing with our lives. This is complete negligence,” said one of the protesting locals.
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