Srinagar, April 16 -- The residents of Gundbal slammed the authorities for their inability to finish constructing a footbridge that would connect the area with the rest of Srinagar city.

Locals told Kashmir Observer that the construction of the bridge was started in 2016 by the R&B department, however till date the work hasn't been completed.

"The bridge construction has dragged on for years," said Shabir Ahmed, a resident of Gundbal. "Locals are forced to use boats to cross the river. If the bridge had been completed, this tragedy could have been avoided."

Abdul Rashid, another local, said that the work was going at snail's pace for the last seven years and the residents had taken-up this issue with the authorities a couple of times....