Kandhamal Villagers Struggle as Bridge Access Collapses Again
Key Points
Gumadi approach road washed away twice in one week due to heavy rain and poor construction.
Teachers, health workers, and officials unable to reach destinations; schools and vaccinations disrupted.
Locals demand accountability and swift completion of the permanent bridge.
G. Udayagiri (Kandhamal), Jul 2: Continuous heavy rainfall has once again washed away the approach road to the under-construction Gumadi Bridge in Tilori, plunging five panchayats into isolation and disrupting essential services in the region.
The road, which had already been damaged once earlier this week, was rebuilt temporarily but collapsed again under the pressure of 5 to 6 feet of floodwater.
The repeated failure of the road has sparked outrage among locals, who blame the poor-quality construction by the contractor. Residents allege that substandard materials and rushed execution have made the road vulnerable to even moderate rainfall.
The situation has severely impacted daily life. Teachers and students were forced to return home after being unable to cross the flooded stretch. ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives) could not reach villages for vaccination drives, and revenue officials were unable to access their offices.
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The disruption has also affected electricity and mobile network services in the Daringbadi region, compounding the hardship for residents.
Locals have demanded immediate intervention from the district administration and completion of the permanent bridge, which has been under construction for months. Makeshift bamboo and sandbag paths created by villagers are proving unsafe and unsustainable.
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