Missing railings on bridges threat to commuters’ lives

A large number of bridges constructed on drains and canals are causing a sense of insecurity among residents in the district as these have been without railings. A tragedy struck on the Muhawa bridge about two years ago when a school bus carrying children fell into the canal as it had no railings. Seven schoolchildren were killed in the accident. 

Amarjit Singh, block samiti member, Patti, and a resident of Jaura village, said the railing of the drain-bridge in their village had been missing for the last more than 20 years. There is a curve before the bridge. In the absence of railing, it can lead to accidents, especially during morning and evening hours. Residents of the area have brought the matter to the notice of the authorities concerned time and again but to no avail, he said. 

Capt Balbir Singh Panun, a guardian of governance (GOG) of the area, said he had submitted a report to the authorities in this regards some time back. Similarly, the railing on the drain bridge on Plasaur-Jarmastpur road too had been missing for years. Same is the situation in Jeobala, Manochahal Kalan, Bhuchar Kalan, Khalra and other villages. The situation is grim in the border belt where the civil administration is helpless as it can’t repair the railings in the area of defence which doesn’t fall in their jurisdiction. 

Satnam Singh, SDO, Drainage, said, “After the Muhawa accident, the department wrote a letter to officials of the PWD (B&R), the Punjab Mandi Board and other departments concerned to do the needful immediately by repairing the railing.” 

According to him, the maintenance of the railings on the brides is the responsibly of the departments which look after the roads concerned on which the brides are situated. He added that the non-availability of funds was the major problem. He said the department had sanctioned seven posts of JEs in his sub-division but only two posts were filled while the remaining five had been lying vacant since years, thus affecting the work. 

Head teacher appreciated  

The services of Sukhwinder Singh Dhami, head teacher of Government Elementary School, Pandori Takhat Mal (Tarn Taran), have been appreciated by Krishan Kumar, Secretary Education, Punjab, for his extraordinary efforts. The secretary, in his letter to the head teacher and the district education authorities, had praised his efforts for improving the quality of education in the school. Dhami said social activists of the area had helped him in collecting Rs 5 lakh to give a new look to the school building