Tral residents await reconstruction of damaged bridge on Watal Ara since 2014
Pulwama: Around 11 years after the devastating floods of 2014 damaged a vital bridge in Rathsuna village of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, residents are still waiting for its reconstruction—despite repeated appeals and official assurances, locals alleged Saturday.
Locals from Rathsuna said the bridge over Nallah Watal Ara, which connected them to Tral town, was washed away in the 2014 floods. Since then, the crucial link remains broken, leaving the villagers disconnected and dependent on foot travel.
“We donated our valuable land for the road project to connect with Tral town. The road was built, but without the bridge, it is practically useless,” said Shakeel Ahmad Bhat, a local resident.
“We can walk across, but no vehicles can pass. Patients, elderly people, school children—everyone is suffering,” he added.
Villagers expressed frustration over what they call official apathy. “We have raised the issue several times with the authorities, but all we have received are empty promises,” said another local.
According to residents, several delegations met with officials over the years, who assured them that work would begin soon. However, nothing concrete has materialized on the ground.
They said they currently water in the nallah is low and people are crossing it but once water level increases, people are forced to take long routes to reach their destinations.
Locals are now urging the administration to prioritize the bridge project to ease their hardships.
“We just want what we were promised—a functional road with a bridge. Only then can our village truly connect to the outside world,” said another resident.
They have sought immediate intervention of MLA Tral Rafiq Ahmad Naik in this regard.
An official said that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the bridge has been submitted. “We are hopeful the construction work will start soon,” the official said.
