Hoteliers Seek Immediate Restoration of Bridge, Road Washed Away in Lashpatri Cloudburst
Ganderbal, July 13, KNT: A day after a cloudburst and flash floods wreaked havoc in the Lashpatri tourist resort near Sonamarg, local hoteliers have urged the administration to immediately restore the road connectivity by constructing a permanent bridge and repairing the stretch washed away in the natural disaster.
The appeal comes after flash floods triggered by a cloudburst swept away an iron bridge erected by the local hotel owners through pooled resources and damaged nearly half a kilometre of the approach road, leaving the tourist destination disconnected.
The hoteliers said they had collectively financed the construction of the temporary iron bridge to facilitate movement of tourists and local residents, but the structure was washed away in Sunday’s flash floods.
Appealing to the administration for urgent intervention, they said a permanent bridge and restoration of the damaged road were essential to revive connectivity and prevent further disruption to tourism activities.
They pointed out that Lashpatri serves as the base camp for the famous Seven Lakes trek, attracting a large number of trekkers and visitors every season. Without proper road connectivity, they said, tourism and the livelihoods of people dependent on it would suffer severely.
The hoteliers urged the authorities to treat the restoration work as a priority and ensure that the damaged infrastructure is rebuilt before the peak tourist season is adversely affected. [KNT]
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