Rain fury: Wooden bridge gets washed away in Odisha’s Koraput, villagers stranded

At least four villages are now cut-off from the mainland after a wooden bridge over Poda river connecting Girliguma Gram Panchayat under Ddasmanthpur block in Koraput district got washed away due to a deluge of water from the nearby hills following heavy rain.

As per reports, thousands of villagers have been stranded in four villages for the last two days as there is no alternative route to move to the mainland. In case of any emergency, people are now forced to cross the overflowing river dangerously by putting their lives at risk. Children are not able to go to schools as the river is also in spate. Moreover, women are forced to be confined inside their houses.

Resentment is brewing among the people as the district administration has not made any alternative arrangements for them.

Though the villagers have requested the administration to construct a permanent bridge over Poda river several times, it has fallen on deaf ears so far.

As per the block administration, the construction of a bridge with an estimate of Rs 30 lakh was granted. However, the project has been deferred as a bigger bridge is required at that spot and soon it will be granted.