NAROWAL: Residents of dozens of villages of tehsil Zafarwal have been cut off from the Sialkot city since the collapse of the Hanjaliwala Bridge in the monsoon floods.

The temporary bridge built over the Dek rainwater drain was dismantled by the authorities after an accident while private boats used to take the people across the drain whenever there was water. These days there is not much water and motorcycles, cars and other vehicles have to run through knee-deep water to cross the riverbed.

Six months ago, the Hanjaliwala bridge on the rainwater drain was washed away during heavy floods. Residents of Zafarwal and surrounding areas had to travel an additional 15 to 20km to reach Sialkot. Locals had started running boats to take the citizens across against Rs50 per. Some people had built a temporary bridge with the help of philanthropists and started charging Rs50 to Rs100 from those passing through the bridge.

A passenger van fell into the Dek drain while passing through the temporary bridge and the Sialkot district administration dismantled this temporary bridge. After this whenever there was water in the drain, the boat system would work but it was also shut on the complaints of overcharging registered by the citizens.

Hundreds of people from dozens of villages in Zafarwal and surrounding areas go to educational institutions and factories in Sialkot every day and of them traveling on motorcycles, in rickshaws, cars and passenger vans have to pass through the water in the drain. The water level in the rain drain deck keeps rising and falling which is a risk for the daily commuters.

Speaking to Dawn, the local people have criticised the district administration for its failure to construct the bridge. They say that the administration is not even stopping those passing through the drain and it can cause a major accident anytime.

They demanded Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz take notice of the situation and issue orders for construction of a temporary bridge at least.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2026