Village of Kargil war braveheart Abdul Karim in Udhampur awaits road connectivity

Arjun Sharma

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Jammu, February 14

Residents of Sen Thakran village in Udhampur district, known for the sacrifice of soldier Abdul Karim during the 1999 Kargil War, face persistent challenges. Despite the passage of 24 years when Karim made the supreme sacrifice, the villagers continue to grapple with lack of basic amenities, particularly proper road infrastructure.

The monsoon season exacerbates their difficulties, transforming a seasonal stream into a formidable barrier that isolates parts of the village from the nearby road. This situation forces students to miss school, and access to healthcare becomes a distant hope for the locals. Past appeals to authorities for a road and bridge over the stream, safeguarding daily life during the rainy season, have gone unanswered.

During the monsoons, the villagers experience a myriad of issues, from disrupted education to the loss of cattle and destroyed crops due to flash floods. Despite pleas to local authorities, the dream of proper connectivity remains elusive. Anshu Verma, a student, emphasises the impact on education during the rainy season, describing the challenges faced in crossing the stream to attend classes.

Local resident Ram Lal underscores the hardships caused by the lack of connectivity. He laments, “Students and common people suffer as we have to cross the flooded stream during the rainy season.” Lal urged the government to address the issue promptly, adding that the village with a population of 500-600 lacks proper road connectivity.

In response to the demand, a senior official from the Public Works Department (PWD) stated that directives have been issued to plan a road near the stream, aiming to mitigate the challenges faced during the rainy season.