Hajin, Oct 21,: Panic gripped Check-i-Chandergeera village in Hajin area of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday after a portion of the Jhelum embankment caved in, endangering the adjoining road and nearby settlements. Fresh cracks have developed along the road stretch, raising fears of a possible large-scale collapse similar to an incident that occurred in the area a few months ago.
Locals said the damaged embankment poses a grave risk to commuters, particularly school buses and vehicles carrying daily passengers. “This embankment connects large parts of Sonawari with Hajin town. If it caves in completely, several villages will be cut off,” said a local resident. He added that unchecked erosion and the absence of timely repairs have left the road increasingly fragile.
Another villager said the situation has worsened due to rising water pressure from the Jhelum. “For months we have been urging the authorities to fix this, but all they do is temporary patchwork that never lasts,” he remarked. “If this continues, the road will not only collapse but also endanger homes and agricultural land situated close to the river.”
Chairman of the Civil Society Forum Hajin, Ali Mohammad Nishter told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the issue had recently been discussed with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora. “We were promised that work would begin immediately, yet nothing concrete has been done so far,” Nishter said. He cautioned that the embankment’s condition now represents an existential threat to the locality and urged higher authorities to act before tragedy strikes.
Locals appealed to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally intervene and ensure immediate restoration. They urged that the embankment be strengthened using proper engineering measures to prevent further erosion and restore public confidence in the safety of the area. [KNT]
