‘Why Should We Vote?’ Ask Residents of an Island Village in UP

Did you know that Uttar Pradesh has an island village? There’s no electricity, and there’s a lot more to complain.

Residents of village Pachisa complain that ‘even the politicians keep their distance’ from the village (Photo: Aaqib Raza Khan/The Quint)

You need a boat to reach Village Pachisa, in Sitapur district. Surrounded by two rivers, this village becomes an island every monsoon. Around 350 families live in the village and they complain that no one cares about them. Elections don’t bring much relief either, as “even the politicians keep their distance,” say the residents.

The Quint drove for almost 2 hours from Sitapur, followed by another half an hour’s drive, and then a 20-minute walk to reach the boat boarding point. Hear the story of this strangely disconnected village of modern times.