Villagers risk lives to cross river as foot bridge awaits completion for 24 years

Villagers risking their lives to cross river without foot bridge at Kirchi.
Villagers risking their lives to cross river without foot bridge at Kirchi.

Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, July 28: Inhabitants of Kirchi in Dudu tehsil and adjoining area risk their lives to cross the village river as there is no foot bridge despite start of work for the same 24 years ago.
Crossing the river is a big threat to the villagers and particularly students, who have to cross the flowing water daily for reaching their destinations. People of as many as four villages daily cross this river to access the road connectivity, which becomes more dangerous during the rainy season when flash floods are in routine.
For having temporary connectivity between both side of this Chapari river in Kirchi, people have put up a long wooden log in the river for using it as bridge.
Due to absence of bridge on the river,   students of these four villages find it difficult to reach their school for studies. Further, it becomes almost impossible to take a patient to Dudu hospital while a number of mishaps have already taken place while crossing the river.
These villagers are waiting for a permanent foot bridge on the river for the past more than two decades. According to the locals, work for construction of a foot bridge on the river was started here 24 years ago but there was no further progress after   a pillar was raised. Despite repeated pleas and assurances by the concerned authorities, there was no further progress on the proposed foot bridge with the result that people of the area continue to suffer.