Srinagar: on Monday, several protesters marched on the border area of Tangdhar along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
But this was not protest for ‘azadi’, jobs, electricity or to keep surroundings clean. Instead, it was a demonstration for a bypass to avoid a risk-laden route which claims lives every winter.
The residents of this border area marched to push for the construction of a proposed 6km tunnel bypassing Sadhana Top - a high point on the Kupwara-Tangdhar road vulnerable to avalanches and road sinks.
Last week, 11 residents, including four women and a one-year-old baby perished in snow slides. Their frozen bodies were recovered several hours later after locals, police and Army carried a herculean rescue mission.
This became the fresh trigger for agitated residents’ longstanding demand of an all-weather tunnel bypassing the dangerous stretch on Sadhana top.
While several people were seen marching on Tangdhar township's centre, many more came out in solidarity in Srinagar and Jammu as well in support of the demand.
“Hum kaya chate … tunnel. Hamari maange poore karo (We want tunnel. Accept our demands),” shouted the people as they marched through the Tangdhar market.
Situated at the altitude of 3000 meters, Sadhana Top is prone to avalanches and road accidents. Snow closes the pass for more than six months in winter, restricting the movement of people of the area. Last year, a patient had to be ferried on a cot by the people to reach to the hospital because the road was closed.
“Seventy thousand people of Karnah remain cut off from the rest of world six to seven months due to snowfall on the pass. Every year, we suffer casualties. People of the area are demanding a tunnel. Only fake promises were made in the past,” said Ahsan-ul-Haq, a scientist from the area.
Jammu and Kashmir public works minister, Naeem Akthar, said they have taken up this issue with the Centre. “We have taken up the issue with the centre. This is one of the areas which remains cut off. You have already got major tunnels sanctioned. At least three are completing and for other three DPR (detailed project report) are being prepared,” he said
Last summer, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti promised the residents that a tunnel would be constructed in the area which is surrounded by Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on three sides.
''Either open the road to Muzaffarabad for us to give us better connectivity or construct the tunnel. We cannot remain in cage for six months every year,'' a senior citizen told CNN-News18 in Srinagar.
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