Sajid Raina
Kupwara, Feb 11: Amid continuous road blockage due to snow, bodies of three residents of far-flung Karnah are lying in the mortuary of district hospital Handwara with the bereaved families urging administration to take immediate measures for the return of the bodies.
The identity of the deceased include Shabir Ahmed of Bhatpora, Sadiq Jan of Amrohi and Sayeed Qureshi of Ghbara.
Locals have been continuously protesting for the last four days, demanding construction of a tunnel at the Sadhna pass on the Kupwara – Tangdhar highway.
Saying that their lives become hell during the winter season, people of Karnah in Kupwara urged the government to facilitate evacuation of the dead bodies to their destinations for the last rites.
“A few days ago, the weather was fine but the administration did not make any effort for the evacuation of the bodies. We have put our demand for construction of a tunnel at Sadhna Top but none is paying attention to our pleas,” said Mohammad Ashraf of Karnah.
Another local said the government is making claims in the summers about development of border areas as tourist destinations but the lack of arrangements for ferrying the bodies to their native places reflect the government’s callousness towards them.
“It is so miserable to see what the families of the deceased, whose bodies lie at the mortuary in Handwara from the past few days might be going through”, said National Conference youth worker Waqar Khan.
He demanded immediate assistance from the administration for ferrying the bodies to their respective villages.
“Respecting and thinking about the residents who have sacrificed their lives and people who in this harsh weather are still protesting and trying to raise their voices, the government should immediately take action”, he said.
They appealed to the government to airlift the bodies to native places as soon as possible so that their families can get a sigh of relief.
An official said that they are on it to send the bodies to their respective villages as soon as possible.
