PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Pithoragarh
Mass migration has hollowed outhundreds of Uttarakhand’s mountain villages, driven not just by the search for jobs, but by the absence of dependable roads and basic necessities. The Shuklayadi–Kheti–Dhari link road under Berinag tehsil of Pithoragarh district stands as a glaring example of protracted administrative neglect and political apathy. Five years ago, excavation and cutting work commenced, igniting a glimmer of hope. Villagers surrendered their fertile agricultural holdings in good faith, trusting that their sacrifice would pave a smoother path for generations to come. Yet the road remained unpaved and is now abandoned. Where lush fields once thrived, there are now treacherous potholes, muddy swamps, monsoon gullies and heaps of landslide debris. Intended as a lifeline for a population of over five thousand, this corridor has instead become a symbol of systemic failure.
During monsoon, it turns into a lethal trap. Faced with medical emergencies, the villagers hoist patients on makeshift palanquins or shoulders to trudge miles on foot. “This is the grim reality of rural healthcare: whether it is a critically ill elder, a severe accident victim, or a woman in labour, every patient faces a medieval journey through perilous mountain switchbacks to reach the nearest clinic,” despaired a villager. All too often, precious lives are lost en route simply because timely medical aid is out of reach.
The depth of their despair is audible in the whispers at the village squares. Their conversations no longer centre on progress, but on quiet resignation. “It seems this road will not be built in our lifetime,” lamented a village elder.
They said they have submitted countless appeals to the local administration and the elected representatives; but the road remains elusive. “We are tired of grand announcements and hollow promises political leaders dish out to us during election campaigns. The youths are restless while we, the old, have learnt to maintain patience,” rued another village elderly.
