A broken RCC bridge in Shymplong is giving a hard time to the border residents, as they now have to travel and carry their food and medical supplies using a hanging bridge over Lukha river to reach the national highway 6 in Sonapyrdi.
On May 16, due to heavy rain, the bridge number 54/1 was washed away, putting about 8000 villages in the area to untold hardship because the bridge connects to six remote villages of Shymplong, Lejri, Huroi, Hingaria, Lahalein and Borsora in the extreme corner of East Jaiñtia Hills district.
These villages are only 2-8 km away from India- Bangladesh border and 50-60 km away from the national highway. The six villages have no proper healthcare centre and the nearest Public Health Centre at Umkiang village is far away.
“If we want to go to Khliehriat or Umkiang we now have to walk on foot and use the hanging bridge till we reach Sonapyrdi, which is challenging” a resident said. The villagers said simple tasks like going to doctor’s appointments and grocery shopping have been made a challenge with no transportation.
Villagers also said that ever year landslides are usual affair during the monsoons. In 2020, fearing disconnect villagers took the task of clearing the debris with bare hands and rudimentary tools available from their homes.
Border residents are now anxious as they wait for the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (Roads), Khliehriat to take up restoration works and replace the bridge.
