By: Amin Masoodi

Non-availability of a footbridge on a stream has claimed three lives during the past few years in the remote Sevar village of Lolab valley in Kupwara district. Residents of the village said despite repeated pleas, the authorities have not raised a vital bridge to save human lives.

As a temporary arrangement to help them cross to the other side of the nullah, local residents have placed logs of wood over the nullah. They said the absence of a bridge was posing threats to the lives of people, especially school going children.

“In 2010, Rameez Ahmad Malla, a Class XI student, drowned into the nullah and his body was fished out two days later. Due to the absence of a proper bridge, another Class X student Zamrooda Akther drowned in 2011. In 2007, a woman Jana Begum slipped from temporarily erected logs of wood and drowned. Her body was retrieved on the next day at least a kilometre away from the spot,” said Irshad Ahmad Wani, a local resident.

Disabled by both arms, Irshad also slipped and fell into the nullah in April last year but as the water level was low, he managed to reach the bank. Schoolchildren are most vulnerable to drowning into the nullah. Parents said they accompany their children and help them reach the other side of the nullah.

“Every morning, I accompany my two children to cross the nullah and reach the other side. On their return from school, I again help them reach the other side of the nullah. The water level rises in the nullah in March and April posing a serious threat to the lives of children,” said Abdul Aziz, another resident.

We made several representations to the Roads and Buildings Department and the Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara to raise a footbridge on the nullah but to no avail, he said.