Jharkhand Village’s Monsoon Misery: No Bridge, No Entry

The village of Lagora in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district is experiencing severe hardships due to the lack of a bridge, especially during the monsoon season. A village meeting convened under the leadership of social worker Lakshuram Mundri addressed the issue, with villagers voicing their anger over unfulfilled promises from political leaders. These leaders had assured the construction of a bridge over the Lagora River during the previous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The absence of the bridge has affected about 900 residents across the villages of Chatma, Lagora, and Maddih for the past ten years. The monsoon renders access to the panchayat and block offices nearly impossible. This situation creates significant difficulties for pregnant women needing medical attention and for children trying to attend school. The villagers have unanimously decided to boycott the district administration and restrict entry to the village if the bridge remains unbuilt by December 2025. Lakshuram Mundri highlighted how the monsoon isolates the villagers, making it impossible to reach hospitals and schools. The muddy roads add to the misery. Repeated petitions to the leaders and representatives have yielded no results. The villagers have declared their intention to boycott government programs and deny entry to any leaders, workers, or administrative officials during the elections if their concerns remain unaddressed. The meeting was attended by Sikandar Mundri, Mohan Mundri, Gones Mundri, Gopal Mundri, Naman Mundri, and numerous other villagers.