Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal, May 6: An under construction footbridge collapsed in Lati Gundroshan area of Shadipora, leaving the residents of Ganderbal and Bandipora districts anguished.
The footbridge continued to remain incomplete for the last 15 years.
According to the locals, the footbridge was intended to connect several villages.
They said the under construction footbridge collapsed today, resulting in minor injuries to two individuals. “We have waited nearly 15 years for this vital link. It’s still not usable,” said a local resident. Another remarked, “No shikara operator relies on this bridge — it’s been practically abandoned due to its incomplete state.”
An official from the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Division Sumbal, under the Public Works Department (PWD), confirmed that the bridge is being executed by SICOP, a government-run corporation, while the department oversees the work.
“About 50% of the plates had been installed when a sudden imbalance caused the ropeway to collapse,” the official stated.
The official further alleged that Shikara operators had been anchoring sand-laden boats beneath the structure and using the incomplete bridge to haul them—a possible factor that may have contributed to the collapse.
The incident has renewed calls for accountability and timely completion of long-pending infrastructure projects in the area.
