Handwara, Mar 08: Residents of Langate in north Kashmir’s Handwara area have demanded early reconstruction of the historic Dand Kadal bridge, saying the damaged structure has disrupted connectivity and caused hardships for people living in several villages of the Mawer area.
Locals said the bridge was damaged in 2023 and served as a vital link between Langate town and surrounding villages. Since then, residents have been forced to take longer routes to reach markets, hospitals and other essential services.
Residents said authorities visited the site several times after the bridge was damaged and assured them that reconstruction work would begin soon, but no progress has been made so far.
Sajad Ahmad, a resident of Langate, said the bridge has remained in the same condition for the past three years.
“Officials visited the site many times and assured us that the work would start soon. But nothing has happened so far. We do not know how long we will have to wait,” he said.
Abdul Rashid, a farmer from a nearby village in the Mawer area, said the damaged bridge has significantly affected daily life.
“Earlier it took us around 10 minutes to reach Langate market. Now we have to travel a long distance which takes nearly an hour. It has increased our transport costs and wasted our time,” he said.
Another resident, Shabir Ahmad, said students are also facing difficulties due to the damaged bridge.
“Many students from our villages study in Langate. They now have to leave home very early and travel longer routes to reach their schools and colleges,” he said.
Local trader Mushtaq Ahmad said the delay in reconstruction has also affected business activity in the area.
“People from Mawer used to come to Langate for shopping and trade. Due to the broken bridge, movement has reduced and local businesses are suffering,” he said.
Officials from the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department said that the proposal for reconstruction of the bridge has already been sent to higher authorities.
They said work cannot begin until funds are approved by the government. Meanwhile, residents have urged the administration to release the required funds and start reconstruction work without further delay.
