Footbridge in J-K swept away in heavy rains, more than 5,000 affected

Residents of Udhampur are risking their lives, wading through a flooded Sloo nallah, after a crucial footbridge connecting more than five thousand people across three panchayats - Danwalt, Blandh, and Rang of Parli Dhar block in Ramnagar tehsil of Udhampur district - collapsed after a flash flood triggered by heavy rains last week.

The bridge, situated in ward no 8 of Bhiala Jagir in Dalwalt panchayat of Ramnagar tehsil, was literally swept away as heavy rains lashed the area last week.

The bridge, which was the only one of its kind for residents to cross the Sloo Nullah, has left them in dire straits. The situation has been deemed especially precarious for children, women, and the elderly.

Locals have called for urgent action from the authorities, demanding that they either construct a new footbridge or repair the damaged one. However, no concrete steps have been taken as yet, they alleged.

Locals said they feared wading through the nallah and were desparate for an invertention by the administration.

The villagers said they had been desperately pleading for a bridge for decades to ease their daily commuting struggles but their pleas fell on deaf ears.