Gowhar Maqbool
Hajin: The road passing through Hajin town near Sheikh Mohalla developed massive cracks on Tuesday, creating panic among locals.
Residents said the cracks had been forming over the past few days, but today, the damage worsened with fresh fissures appearing.
Talking to Kashmir Convener, Gh Hassan said that a 120-meter stretch of the road at Sheikh Mohalla had breached, putting the surrounding area at risk.
He added that a few days ago, DC Bandipora and the MLA of Sonawari had visited the spot to assess the situation, but no concrete steps had been taken to prevent the embankment from breaching.
Another local, Abdul Ahad, who resides near the Jhelum embankment, expressed deep concern. “The situation is extremely worrying. We fear that with each passing day, the cracks will widen, and the road might collapse. If that happens, our houses will be inundated, and we could lose everything we have worked so hard for.”
“It’s not just about our homes; it’s about our lives. We have small children and elderly family members to care for. If the authorities don’t take immediate action, we could be facing a disaster,” he added.
The locals have urged the administration to intervene immediately to prevent further damage.
A team of officials has rushed to the spot to assess the situation, and necessary measures will be taken accordingly.
Meanwhile, senior leader Imtiyaz Parray strongly criticized the administration for its continued neglect of the area.
“This is nothing but a shameful failure of the district administration and the government, who are deliberately ignoring this grave issue. How long will the people of Hajin suffer? How long will our voices go unheard? The concerned NC MLA keeps making false promises, fooling the people time and again. Enough is enough!” he said.
“I warn the administration and the government—if the repair work does not start within days, I will stage a protest along with my party workers and the people of my town. The people of Hajin will not remain silent while their livelihoods are destroyed!” he added.
