Jammu Tawi: The recent flood triggered by heavy rains on August 26 has thrown Jammu into chaos, leaving houses damaged, roads choked with silt, and basic services crippled. Among the worst-hit localities is Gorkha Nagar, where residents are facing acute water scarcity along with the devastation caused by the Tawi floods.
On Thursday, residents staged a strong protest against the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, accusing it of negligence and indifference. Women, youth, and elders gathered at the PHE pumping station in the Boria Complex, Gorkha Nagar near Bahu Fort, Jammu, raising slogans against what they called “empty assurances” by the authorities.
Protesters alleged that despite repeated requests, authorities had failed to restore water supply in the flood-hit locality, forcing families to spend heavily on private water tankers. They accused both political leaders and civic officials of abandoning the community during this crisis.
Following the protest at the pumping station, residents marched to the Bagh-e-Bahu Police Station and submitted their grievances. SHO Bagh-e-Bahu, Ashwani Kumar, also visited Ward No. 48, inspected the flood-affected areas, interacted with residents, and assured them of all possible help. He further promised that their concerns would be conveyed to higher authorities and action would be taken at the earliest.
While this assurance brought some relief, the mood in Gorkha Nagar remains tense. Locals have warned of intensifying their agitation if their demands are not met immediately. Residents have demanded the immediate restoration of water supply, urgent repairs to the pumping station, and strict action against negligent officials.
