Dunadi Bunjwah, Kewa Pull Kither, Tipri Patnazi, and Patnazi Kither are ensnared in a web of peril as an escalating crisis of treacherous potholes and deteriorating road conditions severely disrupts traffic and poses substantial safety hazards.

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SHAFQAT SHEIKH

CHENAB VALLEY AUGUST 17:-The only roadways with different nomenclature in Tehsil Bunjwah, including Dunadi Bunjwah, Kewa Pull Kither, Tipri Patnazi, and Patnazi Kither, are grappling with profound challenges arising from their increasingly dilapidated state, transforming once-familiar routes into daunting journeys fraught with danger. Smooth and navigable paths have devolved into precarious thoroughfares characterised by painfully narrow stretches filled with deep craters. The lack of a functional and adequate drainage system further compounds the issues, resulting in torrents of rainwater pooling in unsafe locations that pose serious risks to motorists and pedestrians alike. This infrastructure decline has bred frustration and anxiety among residents, who feel increasingly abandoned by local authorities and elected representatives.

The Dunadi Bunjwah road epitomises this ongoing crisis, serving as a stark symbol of a construction saga that has languished for decades with scant tangible progress in sight. Community members, exasperated by the lengthy inaction, have resorted to contacting local administrative officials, urgently pleading for immediate repairs that are long overdue. Their disappointment deepens with each passing season, amplified by an unsettling reality: political leaders regularly make grandiose pledges during election campaigns, only to slip into silence once they assume office. This predictable pattern has left residents questioning the accountability of their officials, who seem to conveniently forget their commitments in pursuit of personal agendas.

For school children and daily commuters, the risks of navigating these hazardous road conditions are particularly acute. The treacherous environment they face daily not only raises serious safety concerns but also creates an atmosphere of anxiety, as traffic accidents have become distressingly common. Although there have been sporadic maintenance efforts—such as recent blacktopping in select locations—much of the road network remains in a state of disrepair, further exacerbating the situation. To cope with their frustrations, locals have taken to humorously likening the condition of their roads to the poor dental health of the community, reflecting a mix of exasperation and humour in the face of dire circumstances.

Should the trend of neglect persist, these roads may deteriorate further, worsening the challenges the community currently faces. Frustration permeates the air, intertwining with a palpable sense of helplessness as residents grapple with the stagnation of necessary repairs. Questions have arisen regarding a possible disconnect between the road maintenance department and the contractors tasked with repair work, igniting speculation about the allocation of funds and the effectiveness of oversight for these critical efforts. While some landowners have received compensation for land lost to infrastructure projects, the roads themselves remain perilously narrow and riddled with potholes, rendering travel a continually treacherous endeavour.

Recent heavy rainfall in the Bunjwah and Kishtwar districts has only intensified an already grave situation, leading to further degradation of compromised roadways. Community members are now faced with the daunting challenge of navigating increasingly hazardous routes—a sharp contrast to the infrastructure advancements typically expected during such scenarios. Ongoing issues of road closures, blockages, and ineffective drainage systems have created significant obstacles for both personal and freight vehicles, enveloping the community in a persistent state of anxiety regarding safety and connectivity.

Additional factors have contributed to the dire road conditions, including recent landslides exacerbated by unrelenting downpours, which have left certain sections of the roadway entirely inaccessible. The absence of adequate drainage has also resulted in severe waterlogging, and the infrastructure further deteriorates.

This precarious combination of neglect and hazardous conditions raises alarming concerns about the potential for major accidents or catastrophes, underscoring the urgent need for governmental intervention and repair initiatives to restore safety and reliability to these vital routes.

{The author is a Freelance Writer and Columnist from Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, and can be reached at freelanceshafqat@gmail.com, 9419974577, 9419281321}.