Sonamarg, Dec 07 (KNO): The picturesque place in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, Sarbal village, located some 60 kilometers away from the main town, has been grappling with multiple issues with the locals finding it difficult to live a normal life in the upper reaches.
Notably, Sarbal is the last village of Ganderbal district, which is known for its breathtaking beauty.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO, the residents continue to face severe challenges due to the lack of basic amenities. The people living in this hamlet rely on seasonal work, primarily on Amarnath Yatra.
Most of the villagers work as laborers or horse breeders at the Baltal Base Camp.
Local residents while narrating their ordeals said that they have been facing tremendous hardships in absence of the basic facilities.
According to them, the foundation stone for a medical center was laid a decade ago, but unfortunately the project was stalled for unknown reasons.
The villagers are being forced to travel to Sonamarg for treatment.
“We have been waiting for years for a proper healthcare facility. But, unfortunately, nothing has been done in this regard,” Ghulam Muhammad Raina, a local told KNO.
He further said that the water supply is another pressing issue. “Although one-inch pipe was laid to supply water to the village, it is insufficient to meet the demands of the community,” Raina said.
Ghulam Hassan Sheikh, another local, said that due to the lack of ration stores, the locals here are being forced to visit Nilgrat, which is about four kilometers away from the hamlet. “Every day is a struggle for us. The government has forgotten us,” Sheikh said.
He added that a ration depot was established five years ago at the cost of Rs 17 lakh. However, he said this facility remains unused, leaving the villagers in a dire situation.
“We were promised a ration depot that would make our lives easier, but it stands empty, a symbol of unfulfilled promises," he added.
The people of Sarbal continue to wait for the attention they deserve. They urged the higher authorities to look into their plights and address their issues—(KNO)