Poonch Bus Stand Labourers: Continuous rainfall in Poonch town has exposed the lack of basic facilities for daily-wage labourers at the main bus stand, where dozens are forced to wait in the open without shelter, prompting fresh demands for immediate administrative action.
POONCH MIRROR NEWS DESK APRIL 9,2026
Poonch: Since the beginning of this week, continuous rainfall has forced scores of daily-wage labourers to seek cover under plastic sheets and along shop fronts at the main bus stand here, once again exposing the absence of basic infrastructure at the site.
Between 8 am and 10 am on most days, an estimated 70 to 100 labourers gather at the bus stand in search of work. With no designated shelter or seating, many were seen standing in the open during the downpour, some using plastic sheets for cover while others huddled against walls to escape the rain.
“When it rains, we neither find shelter nor work. The entire day is lost,” said a 45-year-old labourer who travels nearly 20 kilometres daily from a nearby village. “We come early hoping for work, but continuous rain leaves us with nothing.
”The situation has also created difficulties for nearby businesses. A local shopkeeper said the presence of large numbers of workers seeking cover during heavy rain often leads to practical constraints. “They are compelled to stand here, but during rains it becomes difficult for us as well. A proper shed is needed,” he said, requesting anonymity.
Labourers have demanded that the administration provide a covered shed at the bus stand along with basic amenities such as seating and access to drinking water, saying the lack of such facilities exposes them to health risks and affects their ability to earn a livelihood.
The issue, workers say, is not new. Similar difficulties were reported during previous winters when labourers had to wait for work in extreme weather conditions without any protective infrastructure.
Officials indicated that the matter involves multiple departments. A labour department functionary said the construction of a shelter at the bus stand falls under the jurisdiction of municipal authorities. “The matter can be taken up for discussion, and appropriate steps may be considered,” the official said.
With the rain continuing through the week, the demand for a designated shelter has gained urgency, highlighting a long-standing gap in civic infrastructure for informal workers in the district.
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