Public Fury Erupts in IIOJK over Neglect of Basic Services and Infrastructure

In Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), growing public frustration boiled over as protests erupted in Jammu and Baramulla districts. Locals voiced anger over inadequate infrastructure and essential services, exposing the region’s ongoing administrative neglect.

In the Akhnoor area of Jammu, residents gathered to demand action on a crumbling 500-meter stretch of the main road near the steel bridge over the Chenab River. This critical roadway has remained in disrepair for three years, exacerbated by delays in a road-widening project tied to unresolved land acquisition for the bridge.

Protesters decried the worsening conditions caused by neglect, citing soil erosion as a major issue that has led to water and mud flooding their homes. Daily life has been severely disrupted, yet the administration and Public Works Department (PWD) remain unresponsive. Demonstrators demanded immediate intervention, accusing officials of failing to fulfill their duties and allowing essential infrastructure to crumble.

Meanwhile, similar outrage was witnessed in Hardu Aboora village, Tangmarg, in Baramulla district, where women protested outside the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department office. The demonstrators highlighted a persistent and severe water shortage that has left them without access to clean drinking water for months.

“We have been battling this crisis for a long time, and no one from the PHE Department has even bothered to visit our village to address the issue,” one protester lamented.

The lack of basic services has pushed residents in IIOJK to the brink, as protests increasingly target the ineffectiveness and indifference of local authorities. Both incidents underscore the systemic neglect and incompetence that have plagued the region, leaving its residents to suffer in silence.

These protests are a grim reflection of the larger malaise gripping IIOJK, where essential needs like roads and water remain unmet. Observers point out that the region’s governance has deteriorated further since the abrogation of Article 370, with locals frequently raising concerns about a lack of accountability and attention to fundamental issues.

The twin demonstrations serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the people of IIOJK, who are forced to take to the streets to demand what should be basic rights. Residents in Akhnoor and Tangmarg have sent a clear message: they will not tolerate further neglect and demand immediate redressal of their grievances.