‘When Will We Get a Bridge?’ They Ask in Punjab’s Gurdaspur
Every year, a damaged bridge paralyses life in Gurdaspur’s Makoda Pattan village.
Residents of Makoda Pattan village in Punjab’s Gurdaspur District have been isolated from the rest of the state after a pontoon bridge in the area collapsed recently. Every year, heavy water flow renders the bridge useless, turning Makoda into a remote island. The plight of those residing in villages dotting the water body has turned miserable. Their farmlands are suddenly inaccessible, their children unschooled.
From markets to the urgent hunt for medicines, villagers are now scrambling to make meet their daily needs. Every election season, politicians make big promises, that often includes the construction of a reliable bridge across the stream. But their claims are just as seasonal as the polls. Punjab goes to polls on 4 February. With this be a pull strong enough for the political administration to wake up?
Video Editor: Rahul Sanpui
(With Video inputs from Bishamber Bittu.)
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