The collapsed bridge on Lal Bakeya river at Phulwariya Ghat. Picture by Ajit Kumar Verma

Motihari, Aug. 3: When the state is riding high on development, the residents of East Champaran and Sitamarhi districts have to tide over turbulent Lal Bakeya in boats in the absence of a bridge across the river.

The river, which divides the two districts, turns furious in monsoon. But in the absence of a bridge, the people on either side of the river travel in private boats, putting their precious life at risk.

There have been several boat mishaps in the river. Two years ago, 10 persons died when an overloaded boat capsized.

The boat was ferrying around 100 passengers from Phulwariya under Dhaka block in East Champaran to Bairgania in Sitamarhi. It dashed against a pillar of a collapsed iron bridge on August 18, 2009.

The long-standing demand for a bridge to ensure regular and smooth road communication between East Champaran and Sitamarhi also claimed the life of a freedom fighter in Sitamarhi district, Banshi Sah.

Sah, popularly known as Banshi Chacha, immolated himself over the public demand for a bridge on November 20, 1997. But the development-oriented government of chief minister Nitish Kumar is yet to pay any heed to the demand.

After Sah’s self-immolation, between 2000 and 2001, Anwarul Haque, the sitting MP of Sitamarhi, constructed an iron bridge across Lal Bakeya from his MP local area development fund. But it partially collapsed because of the turbulent currents of the swollen Lal Bakeya in 2004. The ramshackle bridge is still there.

Rajendra Prasad Jaiswal, a resident of Phulwariya, said: “The state government has paid no heed to the need of the residents for a bridge for commuting safely between the two districts.”

After each boat disaster on Lal Bakeya, the administration, public representatives and political leaders become active to work to prove their commitment to the people. But soon after, they forget their promises. They resurface only after another disaster strikes.

The people in dire need of a bridge take the shortest but dangerous river route between the two districts, forgetting the boat disasters once the season becomes favourable. From December to May, when the river dries up, the residents on either bank of Lal Bakeya walk over the riverbed.

After the 2009’s boat disaster, Nitish had ordered a probe into the mishap and announced ex gratia to the family of the victims according to the state’s calamity relief fund. The state government also sent a team of divers to the spot to fish out the bodies. Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi directed the East Champaran and Sitamarhi district magistrates to take stock of the situation and steps to prevent such tragedies in future. But promises of constructing a bridge were never realised, except endeavours of a Phulwariya political leader, who continued making necessary arrangements for public transportation. The leader, Pawan Kumar Jaiswal, emerged winner from Dhaka Assembly constituency last year.

Jaiswal told The Telegraph: “As the newly elected MLA of this constituency, I have recommended the construction of a bridge under the Mukhyamantri Setu Nirman Yojana. Moreover, according to my commitment to the residents on the either side of the river, once monsoon is over, I will continue to make alternative arrangements for their easy travel.”