Four years after disaster wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand, people in various disaster affected areas continue to suffer due to Government apathy towards the destruction caused by the disaster. Many suspension bridges across rivers in this region of Chamoli district which were destroyed in the disaster have not yet been reconstructed by the Government.
The villagers in this region are facing severe hardships and risk due to the failure of the State authorities to reconstruct the destroyed bridges. Delay in completion of repair and reconstruction works in other disaster-affected areas is also causing inconvenience and posing risk in other parts of the district.
After the 2013 disaster, the villagers affected by the calamity have started rebuilding their lives. In this region, the Pulna village was among the worst hit by the disaster. The disaster affected villagers have re-settled their homes and domestic affairs.
However, they continue to face severe inconvenience as the authorities concerned have not complete the reconstruction of the many suspension bridges which had been destroyed in the calamity. In the Urgam valley, after the suspension bridge at Kalpeshwar was swept away in the disaster, the local residents have been forced to use a makeshift bridge built from wood.
The residents of Patudi village are also facing similar problems using a makeshift bridge.
With funds from the World Bank, work is being undertaken on construction of motor bridges at these two locations which is expected to be completed by 2018.
According to the bank official, work on all the bridges in question will be completed by 2018.
However, locals point out that till then the villagers will have to rely on the makeshift wooden bridges to cross the river. In Pandukeshwar, the irrigation department has not complete flood protection work along the Alaknanda river due to which till date, some buildings are unsteady without proper foundations.
Four years after disaster wreaked havoc, the threat from the damage caused in 2013 has continued to cause anxiety to the locals.
The locals complain that rainfall heightens their concern for safety.
The disaster affected local residents here are dissatisfied with the state government for failure to complete necessary works in the disaster affected areas. local resident Anshuman Bhandari states that some of the buildings have been without stable foundations since the 2013 disaster.
The buildings are now in danger due to the failure of the authorities to construct embankment along the river.