IMPACT: Bridge Repaired After Our Report and Follow-Up, 9 Months After Flash Floods

Gundmoomin Bridge in Kupwara Damaged in Flash Floods, Takes 9 Months for Repairs: Concerned Authorities Fail to Deliver on Promise In June 2022, flash floods damaged the approaching wall of Gundmoomin Bridge on Nallah Kehmil. Authorities visited the site and assured the public that repairs would be completed within 15 days. However, after two weeks passed without any progress, locals contacted a reporter for help. The reporter first reached out to the Assistant Executive Engineer of the PWD (R&B) department, who claimed that there were no funds available for repairs. The Executive Engineer confirmed that an estimate had been taken and contractors had been called, but none participated in the tender due to a lack of available funds. The reporter then contacted the Block Development Council Chairperson of Treghgam, who promised to take up the issue with the District Development Commissioner of Kupwara. Eventually, the DDC released 9.64 lakh under SDRF fund to the PWD department, and the Executive Engineer called on contractors to participate in the tender. After nine months, construction finally began on the bridge, concluding a long and arduous process after spending 9 lacs under State Disaster relief Fund