Severe flooding has caused significant disruption on the Assam-Arunachal border in Sonitpur, as the land at the head of the Mansiri bridge has been washed away by rising waters. This has resulted in a complete halt to vehicular movement on this crucial road.
The damage, caused by torrential rains eroding the land, has left local residents and students facing significant commuting challenges. The rising waters on one side of the bridge have rendered it impassable for four-wheelers. As a result, people are forced to navigate the area using bicycles, motorcycles, and by foot, often in dangerous conditions.
The erosion has cut off communication on the People's Construction Department road, which runs from Mainaoshree in Rangapara to Chardwara via Koyaljuli. The impact is severe, affecting several villages including Koyaljuli, Thuribari, Fakhriguri, Kathaljuli, and Rangagara. Students from Lakheshwar Brahma M.E. and High School and Amala Boro Primary School are among those most affected, facing perilous journeys to their institutions.
Local residents are urgently calling for intervention from Dhekiajuli Assembly constituency MLA and Assam Minister Ashok Singhal to address the erosion and restore the bridge. The situation is particularly dire for critical patients and women in labor, who face significant difficulties reaching primary health centers due to the disrupted transportation.
With the road closed, locals are forced to traverse the flooded river, heightening the risk of accidents. The community is appealing to Minister Singhal to ensure prompt and effective repairs to the erosion site to restore safe travel and connectivity.