Home / Environment / Remote Villages on China Border Lack Roads, Bridges
Remote Villages on China Border Lack Roads, Bridges
21 Aug
Summary
- Villagers trek miles due to lack of roads and bridges.
- Sick and elderly carried on makeshift stretchers for access.
- Remote settlements face connectivity issues and long walks.
Several villages situated near the India-China border in Bhatwari face significant challenges due to a lack of essential road and bridge connectivity. Residents in at least seven villages must traverse rugged mountain terrain, often walking several kilometers to reach the nearest motorable road. For those in Hurri village, this walk is approximately 2.5km. In Pilang and Salang, while roads extend to the villages, missing bridges necessitate an 8km and 3km trek, respectively. Joudav village is home to 43 families who live 5.5km from the nearest road access.
This isolation impacts daily life and emergency situations. Village head Anita Rana mentioned that patients are carried on foot to the road, and pregnant women relocate to Uttarkashi a month before delivery due to the inaccessibility. The lack of mobile network further compounds these issues. Local leaders express concern that despite being a border block, these villages lack basic infrastructure, relying on pack animals for transport. District authorities have acknowledged these issues, with bridge construction in Pilang and Salang underway and reports being gathered for road projects in Jodaav and other areas.
