With no bridge, people cross river at risk of life

Doda, December 27
In absence of bridge in Malan area of Jammu and Kashmir's district Doda, people risk their life everyday to cross the river.  Just 30 kilometers from district headquarters, students from about a
dozen villages carry their bags on head and cross the river while at  the same time drenching.
15-year old Neha has to cross river to reach her school every day- she  is not alone but hundreds of other children of nearby villages take
the same route. So do the locals including pregnant women, the sick  and elderly. “With no foot bridge in our area, we are forced to cross the
swallowing river with bags on our heads. Even teachers have to carry  the mid-day meal on their head while crossing the river. Sometimes,
the water is nee-deep,” Neha said and added; “we usually skip our  school owing to heavy rains or when water level has gone up in the
river.” “After the only foot bridge collapsed here, ration dealers have been facing problems in carrying their ration to depots in ponies. If
villagers of Malan, Sheinkly, Gramdi, Bhatta, Chakka and Laloor have to go anywhere or to visit hospital, they have to cross this river taking huge risk of life” 65 year old, Hari Krishan Thakur said.
He said, “A work on Foot Bridge has been on, but at snail's pace, we want government should take the matter seriously as thousands of
people have been suffering due to proper connectivity.” “We are forced to live the life which our parents used to live as there is no change in our lives here in terms of Roads, Medical,
electricity and potable drinking water. Since decades, neither our elected representatives nor government in power took stock of our
situation.” Sunder Singh said. Narinder Singh Bali, District Development Commissioner said,  “an amount of Rs 10 lakhs has been sectioned for the iron bridge there and hopefully the bridge would come up in next few weeks as the work is under way.”