Bhapur: Rainy season brings with it untold miseries to thousands of villagers residing in Bhapur and Odapada blocks of Dhenkanal district as they often get cut-off from the rest of Odisha after rain water submerges an approach road.
The road connecting Mahulpunji and Kalikaprasad has been in a miserable condition for years. While more than 10,000 people depend on the road, the administration does not bother to take care of it, was alleged.
The rainwater flowing in from nearby hills creates a flood-like situation in some villages including Tenua of Bhapur panchayat leaving many stranded. There are instances when the farmers leave home for agricultural activities but fail to return home due to flash floods. Similarly, kids of Juangsahi, a nearby village, who are students of Tenua primacy school, have to wade dangerously through waist-deep water to attend their classes. The attendance in the school mostly remains skeletal in rainy season.
“I am scared of wading through waist-deep water to reach the school. I also take junior students with me and I am worried about them,” said Mahadev Behera, a student.
Though the district headquarters is close to Bhapur and Odapada blocks, people have to travel 15-km additionally when roads are inundated due to rain to meet their daily needs.
Locals have demanded construction of a bridge to provide some respite to the people.
“The administration last year spent Rs 5 lakh for maintenance of the road but conveniently forgot about the bridge. We have lodged a complaint with the forest department,” said villager Rajkishore Parida.
“I am not aware of the problem and we will take steps after a field visit,” said divisional forest officer Rinku Kumari.
PNN