Bandipora, Sept. 5 – Rising waters from Wular Lake have caused a flood-like situation in Kaniyari village, Bandipora district, submerging roads and entering several homes, leaving residents in distress, the Kashmir News Trust (KNT) news agency reported, as per information available with The Chenab Times.
Villagers 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,” locals told KNT. They stated that despite promises from successive governments, no permanent relief has been provided, forcing them to face annual flooding.
Floodwater has inundated residential areas, causing significant hardship for families. On Thursday evening, officials, including Tehsildar Hajin Abdul Wasee-ul-Rouf Deva and SHO Hajin Qaiser Bashir, visited the village to assess the situation. The Tehsildar advised residents feeling unsafe to temporarily relocate to a nearby school, where arrangements were made. On Friday morning, the district administration ordered the evacuation of Kaniyari residents to Government High School Gund Jahangir as a precautionary measure.
Villagers dismissed these measures as temporary and insufficient, emphasizing their need for permanent relocation. They have renewed their appeal to the government for immediate and concrete action to ensure their safety from recurring floods.
The Chenab Times News Desk