Kupwara, March 15 (KNO) : Absence of Sadhna Tunnel for the Karnah sector has consumed over 150 lives from last several as the successive regimes have utterly failed to take any credible action to construct the much needed tunnel. The Karnah region remains cut off from the Kupwara and rest of the State for almost three to four months every year due to snow accumulation in the narrow escapes of Sadhna.
The Sadhna top, officials told KNO, has proven to be fatal as it has consumed many lives due to snow avalanche, mud slides. Following mishaps at Sadhna, the residents of Karnah sector formed, 'Sadhna Coordination Committee' to highlight their demands of construction of Sadhna tunnel.
Chairman SCC Haji Abdul Ahmad, a retired Indian Army captain, said that they joined hands to press for construction of Sadhna tunnel at the earliest. "The construction of Sadhna tunnel is yet to begin despite assurance from, State and Central government," Ahmad said.
"We have so far lost 154 lives from Chowkibal to Tangdhar in absence of Sadhna tunnel. We apprised Central and State government, including R&B Minster, Niting Katgaray and Defence Minster about the issue, who have also sent their feedback,” Ahmad told KNO. Ahmad blamed authorities over the recent loss of three more lives who came under snow slide and died of shivering cold.
On 13 December 2018, a detailed report of tunnel was prepared by government including tendering which was Published online on 2 January 2019, but so far, Ahmad said, we haven't received any sort of communication whether the tender has been awarded to any construction company or not.
“We have called for complete shutdown on 16th March, during which whole Karnah sector will observe shutdown to demand the Sadhna Tunnel," he said. The deceased include civilians, Army men, policemen and minors as well, he said.
"Our loaded vehicles are made to wait for weeks at Chowkibal citing unsafe road for vehicular movement. Recently due to closure of vehicular movement our area suffered huge shortage of eatables in the market which directly impacted over the normal lives of general public here, living on God’s Mercy has became a norm here now," he complained.
Talking to KNO, Er Rasheed demanded that the residents of Karnah be allowed to trade with their counter parts in Pakistan. "Since they are cut off for almost four months it is better to let them trade with the other side of LOC which is near to them," Er Rashid demanded.
"Government should allow people to trade and use thing from other side of the border since when they have all the facilities available there," he said. Er Rasheed lashed out at the successive governments including, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, who despite assurance to the locals couldn’t construct Sadhna tunnel for them.(KNO)