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Kailashahar,Anupam Pal:Just seven kilometers from the hustle and bustle of the city—the smooth asphalt roads and flickering lights—lies what feels like a forgotten world. Deorachhara ADC Village’s Ward No. 2 Colony Para, under the Gournagar RD Block, is a name, an existence—but seemingly invisible on the map of development in the state or the country.
The year was 1984. Forty-one years have passed since the Riang community began residing in this area. Generations have gone by, governments have changed, promises have been made—but one thing has remained constant: there is still no road. To cross even short distances, residents still rely on a shaky bamboo bridge. A little rain, and that bridge becomes a hazard. Everyday life here is like walking through a path of thorns—mud, dust, overgrowth, and danger at every turn.
The only existing path is narrow, jungle-lined, and treacherous. If someone falls ill at night, they have to be carried through thick darkness and brush toward the town. If it’s an elderly person or a child, the risk is even greater. This lack of roads is not just a physical disconnect, but a symbolic severance from progress—a living proof of neglect.
In February this year, a sudden fire engulfed three houses in Colony Para. The fire department was called. They arrived—but could only stand and watch the flames, unable to reach the site. Why? Because there’s no road. Three families lost their homes, their memories, their savings. And yet, all it might have taken to prevent it was a small culvert or a steel bridge.
Around 80 people from 15 families live in this area today. Their voices echo with a single hope:
“If the government can at least build a steel bridge for us, we will be forever grateful.”
But this plea of gratitude is actually a silent cry—one the state has failed to hear for decades. Children are scared to walk to school, the elderly can’t reach hospitals, and women tread dangerous paths just to meet their daily needs. Yet this village is only seven kilometers from the city center!
Is this the idea of a ‘Developed India’?
Where some enjoy the luxury of flyovers, while others sketch dreams of the future on wobbly bamboo bridges?
Deorachhara Colony Para is not just a village—it’s a crack in the mirror of development planning. And it raises a hard question: if a basic road hasn’t been built in 41 years, then what is the government truly accountable for? Is public welfare only meant for urban dwellers?
If this report reaches the eyes of any policymaker, we make just one heartfelt request: visit this village in person. Then you’ll understand—how much humanity a small bridge can carry.
