          Locals stage protest for bridge on the brink of collapse
Aman Zutshi
Jammu: Enraged locals of Jammu’s Kathua district on Sunday blocked road and staged a protest demanding immediate construction of Hatli Morh-Kathua road connecting bridge which is in shambles and is on the verge of collapse within a few days.
The dissenter were shouting slogans against locals authorities and  Public Works (R&B) Department in the agitation.
“The Hatli-Kathua bridge can be saved if this bridge gets protection walls and concrete in time otherwise it will get damage and they have to built it a new suffering a loss of Rs 60 lakh.
“There are five hundred families who use this bridge and they will be affected. We demand a probe in this matter as when funds were sanctioned for it where they went and why they were not utilised in a proper way.
“This bridge will fall in day or two. We went to PWD department and local administration apprised them about our concerns.
“But the officials told us that they lack workforce and don’t have much employees to send and repair this bridge.
“This bridge got damaged due to the negligence of Public Works (R&B) Department.
“Mr Chaudhary Lal Singh’s father Sharan Singh Chaudhary built this bridge 45 years ago and used good concrete in it.
“Because of which it is still standing otherwise new bridges are getting washed away.
“We are going to join tomorrow Yuva Rajput Sabha’s protest against Sarore Toll Plaza”, one of the agitators said.
