Their life hangs in balance, literally

For these residents, everyday is a balancing act to cross Kumaradhara river with the help of a ‘hanging’ bridge made of bamboo and ‘baine tree.’ The dream to have a bridge across the river is still an unfulfilled.

The Kumaradhara river which flows in the village overflows during the rainy season. To cross the river to reach the outer world, the villagers have to depend on this ‘hanging’ bridge.

Crossing the river with the help of this bridge itself is an act of daredevilry. A slight slip can prove fatal.

Realising the hard life of these villagers, the government laid the foundation stone for the construction of a hanging bridge in 2006.

However, the work on hanging bridge was stopped when the proposal for the fulfledged bridge was mooted. The village has only 12 families. As a result, the authorities decided not to construct a fulfledged bridge after conducting a survey.

Now the authorities are planning to construct a road to this village via Heggadamane. The road will cost Rs 30 lakh to 40 lakh. To reach Naadnalli via the new road, it will take 3 to 4 kms more. However, forest department may object if the trees are to be felled for the construction of the road.

Without electricity, road and other basic infrastructures, the villagers are educating their kin by enrolling them to hostel or by making them to stay in relatives house.

Several people have already left this village. Walking for three kilomteres amidst leeches and crossing the river with hanging bridge itself is a challenging task for these villagers.