Srinagar, May 02 (KNO): The residents of several areas of Parimpora on Thursday voiced frustration and anger over persistent waterlogging and inaction by authorities, hindering daily life for schoolchildren and elderly individuals in the locality.
Residents from the area, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) lamented the lack of efforts to pump out the stagnant water in the locality despite improved weather conditions.
Expressing their plight, residents highlighted the challenges of passing through inundated lanes. "Forget drains, at least SMC should install water pumps or deploy emergency vehicles for our mobility," urged a group of concerned locals.
“You can see our condition; look how difficult it is for us to come out of these water-logged lanes. There is no drain and rainwater has accumulated to a level as if we are living in a river," said a group of locals in the area.
Javid Ahmad, a teacher, underscored the impact on education, noting that his institution remained closed due to the accumulated rainwater. "While children elsewhere attend school, ours remain confined at home. Elderly members struggle to move around, hindering even visits to the mosque," Ahmad lamented.
Notably, in response to heavy rainfall, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri had chaired a high-level meeting to assess the situation and coordinate rescue operations.
Bidhuri had directed the round-the-clock operation of control rooms, deployment of senior officers for service restoration, and formulation of evacuation plans for low-lying areas.
Despite official assurances, residents claimed their appeals for assistance went unanswered, prompting personal initiatives to hire water pumps.
However, a senior official from Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) said that a drainage proposal for the area was underway, further promising swift action to alleviate the waterlogging. "The drainage proposal is in progress, and appropriate measures will be taken to address the issue," the official said.
He said that they will visit the area and see the possibility of installation of water pumps to dewater the waterlogged lanes and that they will surely address the issue to mitigate the suffering of the people—(KNO)