Garhwal Post Bureau
Mussoorie, 10 Jun: Persistent rainfall has virtually severed the link between Khetwala village in the Mussoorie area and the main road. Heavy rains have damaged the access road at multiple points, rendering it impassable. While no immediate, concrete measures were taken by the administration to restore the route after the closure, the village women took matters into their own hands. Left with no other way to commute, they cut away bushes to create an alternative footpath. Villagers state that they were compelled to take this step out of necessity.
According to the villagers, the continuous rain caused the Khetwala village access road to cave in at various locations, with sections of the road completely washed away. This has disrupted the village’s connectivity. The road closure has caused the most hardship for school-going children, daily-wage labourers, the elderly, and the sick. The supply of essential commodities has also been affected, forcing people to walk several kilometres on foot.
Villagers reported that they informed the administration and relevant departments after the road closed, but due to the lack of timely relief, the women themselves cleared bushes and grass to create a walkable path. This ensured that children could attend school and patients could be transported to the hospital in emergencies. While this initiative by the women stands as an example of the villagers’ resilience and self-reliance, it also raises serious questions regarding the administrative system.
Locals express concern that a critical situation could arise if a seriously ill patient or a pregnant woman needs to be rushed to the hospital immediately. Access for emergency services to the village has been effectively cut off. The villagers have warned that if the road is not repaired soon, the village could become completely isolated during the monsoon season.
The villagers have demanded that the district administration immediately repair the damaged road, clear the debris, and ensure safe passage. They state that this situation arises every year during the monsoon, yet no effective steps have been taken so far towards a permanent solution. People say that when rural women are forced to clear a path without regard for their own safety, it reflects not just a natural disaster but also administrative apathy.
