Bandipora, Sept 5. A flood-like situation has gripped Kaniyari, a neglected village in Bandipora district, after rising waters from Wular Lake submerged road connectivity and entered several houses, leaving residents distressed and fearful.
Locals alleged that authorities have repeatedly ignored their long-standing demand for permanent land allotment to relocate from the flood-prone area. “We are living in constant fear. Authorities have assured us land allocation many times, but we are still waiting,” said the villagers while talking to the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
They said that despite repeated assurances from successive governments, no permanent relief has been provided, forcing them to face the same ordeal every year when water levels rise.
Floodwater has already entered residential areas, causing immense hardships for families. The concerned Tehsildar visited the spot and advised those feeling unsafe to temporarily move to a nearby school, where arrangements were made for their stay. Villagers, however, dismissed the step as a temporary measure that fails to address the core issue of their relocation.
On Thursday evening, authorities including Tehsildar Hajin Abdul Wasee-ul-Rouf Deva, SHO Hajin Qaiser Bashir, and other officials, reached the village to review the situation. On Friday morning, the district administration ordered the evacuation of Kaniyari residents to Government High School Gund Jahangir as a precautionary measure.
The villagers have once again appealed to the government to take immediate and concrete steps to address their long-standing demand for relocation and ensure their safety from recurring floods. [KNT]
