Uttarakhand Villagers Face Trouble Crossing Bridge Partially Washed Off Last Year In Doiwala

A bridge on Jakhan river in Doiwala was damaged last year but it has not been repaired till now. Following which, villagers are having a tough time commuting in the area. The district administration has assured that irrigation officials will inspect the spot and take necessary action.

Doiwala (Uttarakhand): People of a hilly gram panchayat in Uttarakhand's Doiwala assembly constituency are having a tough time crossing the damaged bridge on Jakhan river, which was partially washed away last year.

The bridge built on Jakhan river in Sebuwala of Sindhwal village, a hilly Gram Panchayat of Doiwala assembly constituency, was washed away during the monsoons last year. Since then, villagers have been facing a lot of trouble commuting in the area.

Deputy District Magistrate Aparna Dhoundiyal said irrigation department officials will be sent to the spot to address the matter.

With the bridge being damaged, villagers have to resort to ropes to cross from one side of the river to the other. The process has become more risky since the water level of the riven has risen due to the rains.

The 12-metre-long CC bridge was built by the Jalgam department but it got damaged due to the rains and a portion of it fell into the river. Ever since then, the villagers have been demanding construction of this bridge. Villagers complained that till date, nothing has been done by the administration to improve the situation as they are crossing the river through the damaged bridge with the help of ropes. During the rainy season, the problem has increased more due to the rising river water level.

Head of Sindhwal village Pradeep Sindhwal said that the villagers have been struggling with this problem for the last one year and even after approaching the departmental officials several times, it has not been resolved. "86-year-old Baisakhi Devi, families of Mehar Singh, Devendra Singh, Diwan Singh, Deepak Singh, Madan Singh, Urmila Manwal and several others live in this village. All of them are forced to cross the river risking their lives due to the absence of a bridge," he said.

Doiwala MLA Braj Bhushan Gairola said, "There has been a lot of damage in the hilly areas this rainy season. We are aware of the damaged bridge in Sebuwala. The concerned officials have been directed to inspect and construct the bridge."

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