Residents of Ludhiar village in Jawali subdivision of Kangra district faced a life-threatening situation when they had to carry an injured boy across a swollen rivulet on their shoulders. The village has no proper road connectivity, forcing people to cross the flooded causeway over the local Anaad rivulet on foot.
The incident happened on Tuesday when a young boy suffered a leg fracture in a road accident. With no other way to reach help, villagers placed him on a bed and carried him through the strong current of the swollen rivulet to reach the nearest road head.
No bridge leaves villagers at risk during monsoon
The causeway across the Anaad rivulet becomes dangerous during the monsoon season when water levels surge. For the people of upper Ludhiar village, a medical emergency can quickly become a life-threatening experience because they cannot rely on vehicles to reach help quickly.
According to the original story, the strong current of the swollen rivulet posed a grave threat to the villagers, but they continued their effort to save the injured boy. After crossing the rivulet, the boy was taken to a private hospital in Pathankot for treatment.
Medical emergencies turn into rescue missions
This incident highlights the daily struggles of villagers who live without basic infrastructure like bridges and proper roads. What should be a simple trip to the hospital becomes a dangerous mission during the rainy season.
The villagers' bravery in carrying the injured boy on a bed across the flooded causeway shows their determination, but it also raises serious questions about why such essential connectivity has not been provided to this area.
Our Take: Infrastructure gaps put lives at risk
To put it plainly, this is not a story about heroism alone — it is a story about failure. No community should have to carry an injured person across a flooded river to reach medical care. The lack of a bridge in Ludhiar village is not a minor inconvenience; it is a direct threat to life.
Every monsoon, these villagers face the same danger. Every emergency becomes a test of survival. The authorities must treat this as an urgent priority, not a distant promise. Until a proper bridge is built, families in Jawali will continue to risk their lives for something as basic as healthcare access.
We commend the villagers for their courage, but courage should not be the substitute for infrastructure. This incident should serve as a wake-up call for officials to act before a tragedy occurs.