Rain-affected villagers join hands, develop pathways

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 27

With several village roads and foot bridges damaged due to the rain in Munsiyari and Chamoli, villagers have developed alternative ways to overcome the problems.

In Deval village of Chamoli, the villagers constructed a temporary foot bridge. In Van and Kaling villages, a foot bridge that connected these villages was washed away in mid-July. As a result, the villagers were unable to travel and were cut off from the rest of the district. Undeterred, they put in efforts and constructed a makeshift foot bridge. “For how long could we wait for the local administration to react and come to our assistance. We were completely cut off. It was imperative that we build the bridge,” said Digpal Singh, a villager.

Their efforts have not gone in vain as the PWD has now been instructed by District Magistrate Swati Bhadoria to look into the matter. “I have taken charge of the district. Whatever assistance is needed for the villagers will be given,” she said. In Munsiyari heavy rain wreaked havoc, damaging roads and small bridges. In Harkot, the locals were surprised after officials from the Rural Engineering Department came to their rescue and constructed a makeshift pathway. The village, located 6 km from Munsiyari, was cut off. “We have constructed a makeshift pathway,” said the DM, Pithoragarh.