Mangalore: A bridge connecting the Bojara village of Belthangady taluk to the main city collapsed following heavy rains, stranding the villagers. Following which the villagers installed a thin, palm tree makeshift bridge to cross the river, posing risk to their lives.
Belthangady is densely forested and it rains heavily in the areas with nearly five months in a year pouring.
In 1980, the government had built the Kindi dam across the Somavathi river and also made a bridge. The four feet wide and 80ft long bridge weakened over the years and was slightly damaged in the last couple of years, however, it completely washed away this year after the river overflowed.
The collapse of the bridge has caused great hardships for the 26 families that stay in the village as they are mostly dependent on agriculture and dairy for income.
For selling milk the villagers need to cross the river and go to the other side, which they cannot do now as huge milk containers can't be transported across.
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School kids are also unable to attend Moodayibettu School due to the bridge collapse.
Locals said that they have time and again tried to seek help from the government, however, nothing has been done yet.
"We are facing this problem for many years, and we have expressed our problems to political leaders and Ministers but no one is paying to heed to our problems. Every woman and child from the village has to cross the bridge. Already two women were about to fall from the Bridge but locals saved them. We urge the government to install a proper bridge for us soon so that it ends our misery," said Yatish Gowda from the village.
