SUKKUR: Several hundred families have been confined to their villages since the collapse of a wooden bridge — Chaki Pul — several years ago cutting off a vast area from Khanpur Mahar town and other towns and villages.

The Chaki Pul erected over Meharo Wah (irrigation channel) had been serving as the only link between Khanpur Mahar and a number of villages including Allah Rakhio Chaki, Ghulam Rasool Gabol and Rano Pitafi. Several hundred residents of the affected villages had been using the bridge every day to reach Khanpur Mahar and travel onward. The bridge had been providing them access to markets as they would take their handicrafts and agricultural produce to other cities and towns. With the collapse of the bridge, several hundred families have lost their livelihood.

The villagers appealed to the authorities concerned to look into their issues and order installation of a bridge at the site.

Representing the affected villagers, Babu Chaki, Rahib Chaki and others told local reporters that before its collapse, they had long been urging the Ghotki district administration and the departments concerned to get the bridge repaired to avoid its collapse. However, no one in authority paid attention to their frantic calls. Even after its collapse, they added, no attention was being paid to their repeated calls for erecting another wooden bridge to restore the facility or install a wider and stronger concrete bridge in order to secure livelihood of several hundred families.

They told the reporters that since the collapse of the bridge, they had to travel miles together for an alternative route to Khanpur Mahar. They pointed out that the long distance not only caused unnecessary trouble to the villagers but also appeared not feasible for those who were taking their products and produce to markets.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2020