Bridge washed away in last year’s floods yet to be constructed

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 4: The vital bridge at Batpora outside Shopian town that was washed away in last year’s floods is yet to be constructed.
Located just a kilometer away from the town, the half portion of the bridge, which was constructed over Ranbi Ara stream at Batapora, was initially washed away. Though the other half remained intact but that too was washed away a week ago when heavy rains triggered flash floods in Ranbi Ara stream.
The bridge’s importance can be gauged by the fact that not only it connects around 50 villages with main town but it also connects District Police Lines and local Army headquarters with the Shopian town.
The locals have now constructed a small wooden foot bridge for their convenience. The security personal de-board their vehicles near the bridge and cross the same by foot.
Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Ghulam Muhammad, told Excelsior that they will restore the connectivity within two days. “Hardly, it would take two days. The work has been started on war-footing,” he said.