Hajin: A narrow culvert on the busy Hajin-Sopore road in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district has become a death trap for transporters as 15 accidents have taken place in the past six months, leaving one person dead and injuries to dozens.

Locals while talking to Kashmir Reader said that this narrow culvert near Bonikhan Hajin has become a death trap while authorities are acting as mute spectators.

“Despite several accidents taking place at this dangerous spot, the district administration has failed to maintain this stretch,” they said.

The locals said they have brought this issue to the concerned department several times but to no avail. “We fail to understand why authorities are so indifferent toward this serious issue which concerns with the lives of the people,” said Sajad Ahmad.

Bashir Ahmad, another local, said this has become a major bottleneck in the smooth flow of traffic, with space for only one vehicle to pass. “The road is wide but what irks commuters is the small culvert on a busy stretch. The vehicles are passing easily on main roads but once they reach near the culvert, the driver becomes hesitant and even many slow down frequently landing in the nearby canal,” he added.

The locals have appealed to Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Dr. Owais Ahmad to look into the matter personally and direct the concerned department to speed up the widening work on the culvert so that precious lives are saved.

Notably, a 35-year-old man died when his car met with an accident in the same spot on Friday late evening.

Meanwhile, several political leaders including Imtiyaz Parray, Hilal Akbar Lone, and Naseer Lone have urged the district administration to start repairing work on the culvert.

Executive Engineer R&B Division Sumbal said the work for widening the culvert at Bonikhen Hajin Shahgund road will be started as soon as the weather improves. He said the culvert is already allotted in the NABARD project.

GOWHAR MAQBOOL