Traffic came to a complete halt on the vital Bhaga Serkhan Road within the Dholai Assembly constituency of Cachar district on Wednesday, November 12, after agitated locals staged a massive road blockade. The protest was triggered when a vehicle became completely stuck in one of the numerous, deep potholes that plague the neglected road.
The residents of the Karkat Basti area have been suffering for an extended period due to the deplorable condition of nearly two kilometers of the road, and their repeated complaints to authorities have gone unheeded.
Potholes Paralyze Traffic, Trigger Outrage
The situation reached a breaking point on Wednesday morning. When a vehicle attempted to navigate the treacherous stretch near Karkat Basti and got completely immobilized by the massive craters, the local population’s long-simmering frustration boiled over. Hundreds of residents immediately gathered to initiate a road blockade, paralyzing the movement of all large vehicles.
Locals issued a stern warning, stating that they will not allow any large vehicles to use the road until construction is started and the road is properly rebuilt.
Years of Neglect and Tragic Consequences
Residents allege that the road has been in a state of disrepair for years, forcing them to take matters into their own hands. They claim that they have been carrying out temporary repairs themselves simply to ensure basic mobility, yet the government and the PWD authorities have repeatedly failed to notice or address the urgent need for a permanent fix.
A deeply distressing accusation was raised by the protesters regarding the life-threatening impact of the poor infrastructure:
“The condition of this nearly two-kilometer road is so bad that in the past, a pregnant woman’s child died before birth because the vehicle could not cross the stretch in time to reach medical aid,” a local resident alleged.
Urgent Appeal for Government Intervention
The local community is now appealing directly to the Dholai MLA, the Cachar District Administration, and the State Government to take immediate and decisive action. They demand that the reconstruction of the Bhaga Serkhan Road begin immediately to alleviate the daily hardship and prevent further potential tragedies caused by the road’s dangerous state.
The blockade was reportedly lifted only after assurances from local administrative representatives to look into the matter urgently.
