After tragedy, construction work on vital Gandabal bridge resumes

SRINAGAR — Days after the six persons drowned to death in a boat capsizing incident at Gandabal area of Batwara, the authorities in Roads and Building (R&B) Department here have started the construction work of the bridge in the locality.

Poignantly, on April 16, a pall of gloom descended throughout Kashmir after a boat ferrying 15 people capsized in the River Jhelum at Gandabal, leaving six persons dead while three persons, including a father-son duo and another minor boy, remained missing on the 6th day.

An official from Roads and Building (R&B) told the news agency KNO that work was already ongoing on the Batwara-Gandabal bridge. It took a break after the boat capsized incident but resumed two days after the incident, this time at full pace, he said.

He added that some technical issues have led to the delay in the construction work. Besides, the delay in getting the funds released also played a spoilsport, he added.

Moreover, Sajad Ahmad Naqeeb, Chief Engineer R&B Department said that the work was already going on even before the incident and has been resumed two days after the unfortunate incident took place.

“The construction of the Gandabal-Batwara bridge started in the year 2017 with an estimated cost of Rs 3.67 crores and later some technical issues led to the delay in the construction work,” Naqeeb said.

Also, locals from Batwara and Gandabal areas requested the administration to speed up the work on Gandabal bridge.