PWD’s apathy puts commuters’ life at stake

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, August 30

The 65-km Nainbagh-Aglar-Thatyud road which was damaged in the 2013 natural disaster is yet to be repaired. The route is used by a number of commuters on a daily basis risking their lives. The road links Nainbagh via Aglad Bridge to Thatyud, the block headquarters of the region. However, due to the alleged apathy of the Public Works Department (PWD), the road is still in poor shape.

District president of the Kisan Morcha Pratap Singh Panwar, a resident of Gaith village, said road was the only link to Dehradun.

He said heavy rains every year further aggravate the situation. He said if the things progressed the same way, they would cut off from the rest of the state. He said there was no guardrail on the road.

Naresh, a regular trekker to Naag Tibba, said they avoid using the road as it was in very bad shape.

PWD, Thatyud, executive engineer Anrudh Bhandari said danger zones on the road had been identified and a proposal had been sent to the government. Repair work would begin soon once the budget was sanctioned for the work, he added.

In June 2013, flashfloods in the state caused several landslides, becoming the country's worst since the 2004 tsunami.

Thousands of people died and as many were injured.