Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Jan 25: The residents of village Beril blocked Billawar road for two hours after the body of a 37-year-old Mohammad Saleem, son of Dil Mohammad a resident of Beril village, who had been missing since yesterday, was recovered today from the Ujh river near Rajbagh.
According to the locals, Mohammad Saleem did not return after leaving home since yesterday, following which family members and local residents started search for him and his belongings were found near Bhinni river in Beril village of Billawar tehsil. He was washed away in Ujh river in flash floods when he was crossing the Bhinni river to reach his home as the river has no bridge to cross.
According to sources, some of the missing person’s belongings were previously found on the banks of the Bhini river, leading to fears of an untoward incident. Following the recovery of the body today, an atmosphere of mourning and anger prevailed throughout the area.
Local residents stated that several accidents have occurred in the Beril area in the past due to the lack of a bridge, yet the administration has not taken any concrete steps so far. Villagers have blamed administrative negligence for this incident and demanded the construction of a bridge as soon as possible.
The police have taken custody of the body and initiated legal formalities. The body will be handed over to the relatives after the post-mortem. This tragic incident has once again highlighted the lack of basic infrastructure in the region.
The villagers show the anger and block Billawer road for more than two hours. MLA Billawar , Satish Sharma and district administration reached on the spot to pacify the protesters. They were demanding a bridge to connect Beril village since long to avoid such incidents in future. Ten years back the construction of bridge was started but withheld in want of required funds. A thick population including school children , patients are facing hardships to cross the river in rainy season.
The MLA Billawar, Satish Sharma assured the protesters to highlight the genuine demand before the higher authorities for immediate action. The people lifted the protest after assurance and traffic was restored on busy Billawar road.
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