Gundenur river flows near Laheri village in Bhamragad taluk on the highway connecting Maharashtra to ChhattisgarhAMID HEAVY rains in the remote Bhamragad area of Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, an incomplete bridge on Gundenur river on National Highway 352 has emerged as a major cause of concern for tribals in the area.Datta Shirke, president of Jana Sangharsha Samiti said that incomplete bridge on NH-352 (Laheri to Narayanpur) is proving to be a “death trap for tribals.” According to Shirke, the unfinished bridge poses significant challenges for residents, especially pregnant women and sick individuals in accessing healthcare, especially during monsoon.Gundenur river flows near Laheri village in Bhamragad taluk on the highway connecting Maharashtra to Chhattisgarh. The construction of this bridge began a few years ago. In 2018, an 84km patch of road was mentioned in a report titled, ‘State-wise length of National Highways (NH) in India.’The administration is aware of the issue. When The Indian Express contacted Gadchiroli collector Avishyanta Panda, he said, “After the situation came to light, a boat was arranged for the citizens to cross the river. The situation is serious at one specific period of the day when the water level is very high.”“The work on the National Highway bridge was scheduled to be completed by March next year. Works are on track and will be completed within the stipulated timeline. The delays were owing to security issues because of the Naxal activities in the area. Police presence was required to construct the bridge,” said the district collector.Highlighting the other issues which caused delay in the work, Panda said, “Due to remote location, supply of labour, materials and machine was difficult and disrupted, which also led to slight delay in construction of the bridge. All the measures for mitigation and help are in place. Boats have been supplied and nobody is allowed to cross the river without supervision. The district administration is continuously monitoring the situation and has visited the place multiple times.”Panda said that the list of all pregnant women is there with health staff so that they can be placed in ‘Maher Ghar’ attached to PHCs prior to delivery. Also, medicines and ration for three months have been provided beforehand to all these villages.Story continues below this adBhamragad tehsildar Kishore Bagde also appealed to residents to avoid crossing the flooded river and use the government-provided boat for their safety.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Gadchiroli district