MP’s Sitamau Villagers Risk Chambal Crossing On Overloaded Steamers As Bridge Work Stalls
Sitamau (Madhya Pradesh): The continued delay in reconstruction of the Dhaturia Bridge over the Chambal River has forced residents of more than 20 villages along the Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan border to depend on makeshift steamers for transportation. The bridge, connecting the two states, was washed away in the 2019 floods. Although a high-level bridge construction ceremony was held in February in…
In the village of Sitamau, located on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, nearly 20 communities find themselves reliant on makeshift steamers to traverse the Chambal River. This is due to the ongoing construction stalling of the Dhaturia Bridge, which was rendered unusable following its destruction by floodwaters in 2019.
Despite a high-profile bridge construction ceremony attended by MLA Hardeep Singh Dang in February, progress on the project has yet to resume. To cross the river, villagers now utilize wooden and tin steamers, a journey that typically takes around 15 minutes and costs approximately Rs 30 per person. However, this mode of transport has become increasingly unsafe as the steamers often exceed their designated passenger and cargo limits, leading to three previous accidents resulting in fatalities.
Residents of Dhaturia, Deepakheda, Laduna in Madhya Pradesh, and the Chaumhala area of Rajasthan have expressed their frustration, citing the bridge's absence as causing considerable inconvenience and added expenses. A road trip, necessitating passage through Suwasra, Sitamau, and Mandsaur, is now required. Deputy tehsildar Pankaj Gangwal revealed that steamers have previously been prohibited from overloading, but the administration had to intervene and halt their operations following reports of passengers being transported beyond safe capacities.
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