Vehicles damaged as snowfall leaves bad roads slippery
DDC reviews dewatering
With no respite from bad road conditions snowfall added to the woes of motorists Monday as many vehicles were damaged on bumpy slippery roads.
People driving down the busy motorways like Munawarabad Road, the Airport Road and the Batamaloo road had a tough time as the vehicles got damaged.
On the Hazuri Bagh road, a passenger cab got damaged when it stuck in a feet-deep pothole. The vehicle couldn’t be removed from there and was finally pushed towards a side by the bystanders. “My vehicle got damaged for no fault of mine. Who will pay the compensation?” the driver cried.
At Firdousabad Batamaloo witnesses said the driver had a narrow escape when his car slipped into a pit on the inundated street. “Damage to vehicle has become a routine on this route,” the locals said.
The worse looked true for Munawarbad Road. This main route to Shaher-e-Khaas is full of potholes deep enough to damage any passing vehicle. “Vehicles often drive cautiously but as it was slippery today, many vehicles got damaged,” said the Munawarabad Traders Association.
On the main road to Batamaloo Bus Stand, potholes have been filled with crude stones big strong enough to prove deadly for any two-wheeler. Witnesses said a biker slipped on the main road and was rushed to hospital.
Irked the motorists said the concerned have failed to provide safe road connectivity in the City. “What is the fun of road safety when the authorities themselves leave roads unsafe for commuters. This is criminal negligence on the part of the concerned,” said a lawyer.
When contacted the Senior Superintendent of Police Traffic Haseeb Ur Rehman said: “Maintenance of roads is not prerogative. . Moreover one should drive extra cautiously during bad weather conditions.”
An R&B official said the road repairs would take time. “Blacktopping can be started only in May,” said an R&B engineer asking people to bear with the situation.
Meanwhile the District Development Commissioner Farooq Ahmed Lone accompanied by Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation Tufail Mattoo and other officers had an extensive tour of Srinagar city including Polo View, Radio Kashmir, Tagore Hall, Exhibition Crossing and Zero Bridge and took stock of water logging affected due to unprecedented rains and snow, an official handout said.
“Deputy Commissioner was informed that SMC Srinagar and Fire and Emergency Services have put their men and machinery into service for dewatering the affected area. The Commissioner directed the concerned officers to redouble their efforts so that people could be facilitated,” an official handout said.
