North Lakhimpur: The riverine Lohit-Khabolu area in Assam’s Majuli has been completely cut off from the rest of the district after two wooden bridges over the Lohit River collapsed within three days, disrupting connectivity for thousands of residents.
The second wooden bridge on the Pathorichuk-Garmur PWD road, connecting Lohit-Khabolu with Garmur, collapsed on Friday due to strong river currents and prolonged lack of maintenance. The first wooden bridge over the same river had collapsed on July 29 under similar circumstances.
With both bridges destroyed, around 15 villages under the Lohit-Khabolu Gaon Panchayat have been left isolated, cutting off access to Garmur, the district headquarters of Majuli.
Residents are now unable to reach hospitals, educational institutions, markets and other essential public services, causing severe disruption to daily life.
Patients requiring medical attention, students, elderly people and daily commuters are among the worst affected as transportation to the mainland has come to a standstill.
Lohit-Khabolu, a riverine area transferred from Lakhimpur district to Majuli district in December 2021, was brought under Majuli with the objective of improving access to healthcare, education and administrative services.
However, residents said the deteriorating condition of the ageing wooden bridges has undermined that objective.
Locals alleged that despite repeated appeals, the bridges were not adequately maintained, eventually leading to their collapse under the pressure of the swollen river.
Villagers of Lohit-Khabolu Gaon Panchayat have urged the state government and the Public Works Department (PWD) to immediately restore connectivity and replace the damaged wooden bridges with permanent reinforced cement concrete (RCC) bridges to ensure safe and reliable transportation throughout the year.