Jharkhand Village Faces Isolation in Monsoon, Residents Issue ‘No Entry’ Warning

The village of Lagora in the Savania Panchayat of Bandgaon block, West Singhbhum, Jharkhand, is grappling with severe infrastructural issues, particularly during the monsoon season. A village meeting was held under the chairmanship of social worker Lakshuram Mundri to discuss the construction of a bridge and road over the Lagora River, along with other village concerns. The villagers expressed their frustration over the unfulfilled promises made by leaders during the last Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, who had assured the construction of a bridge. The lack of a bridge has severely impacted the lives of 900 residents from the villages of Chatma, Lagora, and Maddih for the past decade. During the monsoon, access to the panchayat and block offices becomes impossible. Pregnant women struggle to reach hospitals, and schoolchildren face immense difficulties. The villagers have collectively decided that if the bridge is not constructed by December 2025, they will boycott the district administration and prevent anyone from entering the village. Lakshuram Mundri highlighted the hardships faced by Lagora residents during the rains, including difficulties in accessing hospitals and schools. The muddy roads make it nearly impossible to walk, and the absence of a bridge forces schools to close due to flooding. Despite repeated pleas to leaders and representatives, no action has been taken. The villagers have threatened to boycott all government schemes and deny entry to any leaders, workers, or administration officials during elections if their concerns remain unaddressed. Present at the meeting were Sikandar Mundri, Mohan Mundri, Gones Mundri, Gopal Mundri, Naman Mundri, and a large number of other villagers.