Road washed away, villagers build staircase to reach home

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, January 10

Residents of Jamerhara village, 30 km from Palampur, have constructed a makeshift bamboo staircase to reach their houses situated on the hilltop.

The main road to the village was washed away during the monsoon. Despite repeated requests to the authorities, no one came forward to help them. Left with no other option, the villagers were forced to construct a makeshift bamboo staircase.

Villagers said they visited the offices of the Executive Engineer, the PWD (Baijnath), the SDM, Baijnath, and local MLA Mulakh Raj Premi several times, but to no avail. Every time, they were given false assurances.

A resident said children were unable to attend school and it had become difficult to take patients to hospital during late hours. They were also finding it difficult to buy things of daily use from the market in the absence of any road to the village. Villagers said the PWD had constructed a road to the village in August last year. However, it was washed away during the monsoon.

“Although the MLA, the SDM and other state government officials visited the village several times, nothing has been done so far,” rued a villager.

Another villager, Geet Devi, said with the Lok Sabha elections nearing, the MLA and the MP would now come to the area to seek votes. She said the makeshift staircase had turned out to be a boon for them. Its height was 30 feet.

The Executive Engineer, PWD, Baijnath, could not be contacted for his comment.

However, a PWD official said they had sought funds to construct a new road, but the state government was yet to release the same.

False assurances

• The main road to the village was washed away during the monsoon.

• Villagers said they visited the offices of the Executive Engineer, the PWD (Baijnath), the SDM, Baijnath, and local MLA Mulakh Raj Premi several times, but to no avail. Every time, they were given false assurances.

• A resident said children were unable to attend school and it had become difficult to take patients to hospital during late hours. 

• They were also finding it difficult to buy things of daily use from the market in the absence of any road to the village.