Collapsed bridge left residents in the lurch
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 22 2013: Residents of Wangoo Tera under Sugnu Assembly Constituency of Thoubal district and those in the adjoining villages under Kumbi Assembly Constituency of Bishnupur district have been left in the lurch after the only bridge, popularly known as Wangoo Thongjao, built over Imphal river to serve as a lifeline, collapsed two years ago with no sign for new construction or immediate repairing.

The daily movement of the villagers including students, traders and farmers on either side of the river has remained affected after the bridge was collapsed.

A man taking his bicycle over the temporary bridge; the iron frameworks of the collapsed bridge (right)

With no option left, villagers are today using boats to cross the river.

But crossing the river during rainy season is dangerous, especially for school-going children, as the current of the water is very strong; Thounaojam Deven of Wangoo Tera told Hueiyen-Reach-Out team during a recent trip.

The bridge, which used to be the main lifeline connecting the people on either side of the river reportedly collapsed in December, 2011.But no sign of any repairing or a possible construction of a new bridge could been seen despite the fact that people on either side have been pressing their respectively local MLAs namely Sanasam Bira of Kumbi A/C and Kangujam Ranjit of Sugnu A/C, for the last two years.

Talking to the Hueiyen-Reach-Out Team, a resident of Wangoo, lamented that both the MLAs have not shown any eagerness towards taking up the initiative of reconstructing the bridge at a bordering area of the two neighbouring constituencies.

With the two local MLAs turning their eyes away from the problem of connectivity being experienced by the people on either side of the river for the last two years, local residents themselves may have taken constructed a temporary suspension bridge made of bamboo.

But it has no strength to support crossing of goods laden vehicles.

As a consequence, the marooned people on either side have to carry foods and other daily requirements on boats.

Another local resident recalled that Works Minister Dr Khumujam Ratankumar Singh had earlier given assurance that the construction work on the bridge would be started from second week of May and a team of engineers have come to inspect the site of the collapsed bridge at Wangoo Thongjao.

However, till today there is no sign of starting the construction work, the resident lamented.