Agartala, June 06, 2025: Continuous rainfall has triggered severe landslides in Bagachhara, a remote village under Deorachhara ADC in Tripura’s Gournagar block, rendering the sole access road completely unusable for the past week. The resulting isolation has brought daily life to a standstill for over 100 families, exposing what villagers call years of administrative neglect.

The 5-kilometre brick-soling road connecting Debsthal to the scenic Unakoti hills — the only lifeline for Bagachhara — has suffered massive damage. Flanked by a fragile hillside and a swelling stream, the road has deteriorated into a dangerous stretch. Landslides from loose soil and waterlogging from the overflowing stream have washed away large portions of the path, halting all vehicular movement.

“The situation is grim. No vehicles can go in or out. Medical emergencies, school transport, and even farming activities are badly affected,” said a local resident.

Farmers in the area report that large swathes of their farmland and vegetable plots are submerged. Auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw drivers, who depend on daily income, are now burdened by unpaid EMIs, as they cannot operate their vehicles.

Despite repeated appeals to the Public Works Department (PWD) and local administration, no remedial measures have been taken. Villagers allege that PWD officials have surveyed the road multiple times over the last three years, but no repair or widening has been undertaken.

With no official support forthcoming, the residents have begun repairing the road themselves using bamboo, stones, and shovels.

During a recent visit, the Block Development Officer of Gournagar acknowledged the crisis but stated, “At present, there are no available funds for road renovation.”

Angered by the continued inaction, villagers have threatened to launch mass protests if the government does not immediately initiate measures to cut the hill slope, build a protective wall, and reconstruct the road.