Kalimpong villagers still have to cross river Ghis using makeshift bamboo bridge

Students from these villages commute daily across the bamboo bridge

YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, SEPT 21,20222 : Even in 21st century, people from villages like Sal Danda, Dobhan, Maidan and many others to go to villages like Pubang and Pokhriyabong of constituency no. 43 have to cross the Ghis river by means of a bamboo bridge. Students from these villages commute daily across the bamboo bridge. Students in the area are in a big problem, getting their education. Parents are worried for their children walking to school till they return home in the evening. Togo to places like Odlabari and Bakhrakot they have to go to Pokhriyabong to get the transport.

Parents say they can breath easy when a concrete bridge is built across the Ghis river to connect constituency nos 41and 43. While in winter it is manageable to cross the river, as soon as monsoon starts it becomes a serious problem crossing the river using the bamboo bridge/.

At times, there is also a risk to life while crossing the bridge. Local people have to erect these temporary bamboo bridges at the beginning of the rainy season. Residents of the area say besides students traders, businessmen and people going to the haat had to face numerous hardships during the rainy season. Though the government is aware of the problem and it is a hot topic in the social media, no initiative has been taken to mitigate the problem. They have demanded that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration should take the initative to construct a concrete bridge connecting constituency nos 41 and 43.