Sunil Sharma and Mohan Lal Demand Immediate Construction of Temporary Bridge to Connect Pargwal with Jammu

“No Government Representative Has Visited Pargwal Yet,” says Mohan Lal
jj correspondent
Akhnoor, 5th September: Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma and MLA Mohan Lal on Friday visited the flood-affected areas of Garkhal, Fattu Kotli, Sidharwan, and several villages of the Pargwal region including Marh Kullain, Sanda Kullain, Bhalwal Mullo, Rangpur, Jamana Bela, Chhanni, Najwal, and Gurha Manhasa. They were accompanied by BJP District President Kuldeep Banotra, DDC Vice Chairman Suraj Singh and former BDC Nisha Devi.
Due to incessant rains and flooding, the entire Pargwal region has been cut off from the rest of Jammu. The main Jammu-Pargwal road at Sidharwan has remained washed away since September 3, leaving nearly 30,000 residents disconnected. Additionally, bridges in Bhalwal Mullo and Pindi panchayats collapsed on August 26, further isolating the local population.
Sunil Sharma launched a scathing attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Government, saying that departments like the Public Works Department, Jal Shakti, and the Power Department are all under the UT administration, yet the government has failed to show seriousness. “No minister is visible on the ground, and the administration has completely failed to restore basic facilities like water, electricity, and road connectivity,” Sharma said.
Sunil Sharma urged the administration to take immediate steps for the construction of a temporary bridge to restore Pargwal’s vital connectivity with Jammu. He reassured the people that the BJP firmly stands by their side and pledged to personally raise the issue with higher authorities to ensure swift relief measures. He further informed the gathering that local MLA Mohan Lal has been in constant touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs, BRO, and senior administrative officials. Sharma highlighted that MLA Mohan Lal had already taken up the crucial matter of Chenab’s channelization and embankment directly with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent visit, strongly advocating for long-term solutions.
MLA Mohan Lal noted that this was his second visit to the flood-hit region since August 26. He said he has been in continuous touch with the administration to provide basic amenities to the affected families. Mohan Lal further emphasized that the UT Government must take urgent steps to reconnect Pargwal with Jammu and rebuild the damaged bridges at Bhalwal Mullo and Pindi panchayats.
He also expressed concern that “not a single government representative has visited Pargwal so far to review the suffering of the people.”
Villagers informed the leaders that thousands of acres of standing crops have been destroyed. They demanded that compensation and insurance benefits should also be extended to tenant cultivators (Kashtkars), not merely landowners.
Prominent among those present on the occasion were Mandal President Gaurav Singh, former Sarpanch Kuldeep Singh, Kashmir Singh, Om Prakash, Ram Swaroop Sharma, Magdesh Singh, Bhupinder Singh, Jai Singh, Pawan Singh, Mohan Lal, Uttam Singh, Dr. Balvinder Singh, and Gulab Singh.