Residents of Handwara have expressed concern over the prolonged failure of street lights in the town, saying the lack of illumination has made commuting difficult and raised safety concerns during evening hours.
Locals said many street lights have remained defunct for nearly two years, alleging that the Municipal Committee Handwara has failed to repair or replace them despite repeated requests.
According to residents, large parts of the town, particularly the main market, remain shrouded in darkness after sunset, causing inconvenience to pedestrians, commuters and shopkeepers.
“Most of the street lights installed a few years ago have stopped functioning. The entire market remains dark in the evening, making it difficult for people to move around,” a shopkeeper said.
Residents said they have repeatedly taken up the issue with the authorities but claimed they have received only assurances without any visible improvement. They urged the administration to restore the defunct lights or install new ones at the earliest.
Executive Officer, Municipal Committee Handwara, Shahid Ahmad Bhat, said more than a dozen new street lights have recently been installed in the town’s main market.
He, however, said the lights become non-functional during prolonged power outages on the Handwara B-feeder, affecting public convenience, especially in the evening.
Bhat said the Municipal Committee has submitted a proposal for installation of solar-powered street lights in the market to ensure uninterrupted lighting.
“We have submitted a proposal for solar lights in Handwara market. We hope the installation process will begin soon,” he said.
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