Dangling high-voltage wires pose grave risk to families in Patal Bagh Pampore

Pulwama, KNT: Residents of Jabbar Dar Mohalla in the Patal Bagh area of Pampore have raised serious concerns over hazardous electrical wiring in their locality, warning that the absence of basic power infrastructure has put lives at constant risk.

According to locals, nearly ten households in the area are living without a single electricity pole along a stretch of about 500 feet. As a result, high-voltage power lines are hanging dangerously low, in some places touching or hovering just above head level, posing a grave threat to inhabitants, especially children.

Locals said they have been forced to resort to unsafe makeshift arrangements to hold the wires up, describing the situation as extremely dangerous and an accident waiting to happen. They said the risk increases during rains, snowfall and strong winds, when loose wires become even more hazardous.

The residents said they had earlier submitted a formal application to the Assistant Executive Engineer of the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited Sub-Division Awantipora, seeking immediate installation of electricity poles. However, the application was reportedly returned with a remark stating that the work would be incorporated in an upcoming CAPEX plan.

Locals expressed concern that the assurance was vague and could take years to materialise, while the safety of families remains at risk on a daily basis. They urged the district administration and power department to conduct an immediate site visit and take urgent steps to install proper electricity poles in the area.

They appealed for timely intervention to prevent any untoward incident and said they are only seeking basic safety and essential infrastructure for their community. [KNT]