Rajouri, Aug 7: The prolonged closure of the Kalakot-Methani PMGSY road has allegedly claimed life of a 17-year-old girl due to the lack of timely medical treatment, prompting the administration to take action against engineers of the department.

Officials told GNS that the road, maintained under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, was blocked and not cleared in time, which delayed the evacuation of the girl to a hospital. She has been identified as Parveena Akhtar (22) daughter of Abdul Aziz, resident of Plangar.

Taking serious note of the matter, the authorities have placed the concerned Assistant Executive Engineer of PMGSY under suspension with immediate effect.

The department has also initiated action against the Executive Engineer and other officials for alleged dereliction of duty in ensuring road connectivity and timely clearance.

Further inquiry into the incident is underway. Officials said accountability will be fixed and strict action will follow based on the findings of the probe.

Residents said this is not the first such incident on the stretch and have demanded urgent restoration and regular maintenance of the road. They said poor connectivity in far-flung areas continues to put lives at risk during medical emergencies.

The administration has reiterated that maintenance and upkeep of rural roads is a priority, and any negligence affecting public safety will be dealt with firmly.(GNS)