Villagers carry Auto-Rickshaw across river after bridge washout in J&K; authorities yet to act

Residents of Bant village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district were seen carrying an auto-rickshaw on their shoulders to cross a river after their only connecting bridge was swept away by recent heavy rains, reminding authorities of crumbling infrastructure.

The bridge’s collapse has cut off the village from nearby Samaroli, forcing residents to trek nearly four hours on foot to reach the nearest accessible road. Speaking to ANI, villagers said they have approached authorities multiple times seeking help, but have received no assistance so far.

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“We have repeatedly appealed to the authorities, but no one has come forward to help,” said Des Raj, a resident of Bant. “The situation is desperate”.

He also urged the government to provide an alternative means of transportation to connect Bant with Samaroli, stressing that the current situation is causing immense difficulties for the locals.

The lack of alternative routes  has made daily life arduous, especially for schoolchildren and patients who now have to be physically carried across the river’s deep and dangerous waters.

“Schoolchildren and patients all have to be carried across the river. It’s deep and dangerous, but we have no other option. No department has come forward to help us,” he said.

The incident once again highlights the severe infrastructure gaps in remote parts of Jammu and Kashmir, where villages remain isolated during extreme weather conditions.

The region has been reeling from heavy rains, floods, and cloudbursts that have claimed 155 lives and caused widespread property damage in recent weeks. The Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department has stepped up surveillance, while authorities in Srinagar, Pulwama, and other districts have urged people to stay indoors and avoid hilly areas or water bodies amid the continued threat of adverse weather.