Dragnard Gulshan Pora Tral reels under neglect, allege locals
Residents appeal to CM Omar Abdullah, MLA Rafiq Ahmad Naik for immediate redressal of grievances
Pulwama: The residents of Dragnard Gulshan Pora, a remote hamlet in Tral area of South Kashmir, are reeling under immense hardships due to lack of basic infrastructure — with no proper road connectivity or water supply in the area.
The locals said they are being forced to live in medieval conditions, despite repeated pleas to authorities.
The villagers highlighted that they are compelled to carry patients and elderly people on their shoulders to reach the nearest health centre due to the absence of a motorable road.
“Whenever someone falls ill, we are left with no option but to carry them on makeshift stretchers for several kilometres,” said Ghulam Nabi, a local resident.
“In this day and age, it is shameful that we are still deprived of something as basic as a road,”they said.
The residents also complained about the acute shortage of drinking water. “We fetch water from natural springs that are not safe for drinking. We have made multiple requests for pipelines, but nothing has happened so far,” said Fareeda Bano, a housewife.
Recounting a tragic incident from last year, villagers said a devastating fire gutted several structures in the hamlet but no fire service vehicle could reach the area due to the absence of a road.
“We watched our homes burn and couldn’t do anything. We kept calling the fire service, but the vehicle couldn’t reach here. The damage could have been avoided if we had proper access,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, whose home was partially damaged in the blaze.
The residents have now appealed to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and local MLA Tral, Rafiq Ahmad Naik, to immediately intervene in the matter.
They said that the region, though not far from Tral town, remains one of the most neglected pockets in terms of development.
“We urge the Chief Minister and our MLA to visit our village and see the ground reality. We don’t need promises, we need action,” the residents said.
They have warned of protests if their genuine grievances are not addressed soon.
