By TC News Desk
Agartala, 2nd August 2024: The vital Choygoria road connecting Belonia to Santirbazar has been rendered impassable due to a significant dune collapse leaving an ambulance stranded and local residents frustrated. Despite the urgency, there has been a conspicuous absence of response from the emergency services and disaster management departments.
Local residents, alarmed by the deteriorating condition of the roads exacerbated by two days of heavy rainfall, took matters into their own hands. One resident Rajesh Datta expressed his dismay: “We waited for hours, but no help came. It’s disheartening to see the authorities neglecting their duties when we need them the most.”
The situation became dire as the ambulance, carrying a critically ill patient, got stuck. With no immediate help forthcoming, the locals mobilized to clear the collapsed dune, using makeshift tools to create a passage for the stranded vehicle.
A local leader Nitish Debnath, the BJP candidate for Zilla Parishad seat No. 7 of South District arrived on the scene with his team to assist. Debnath, who has been vocal about public service stated, “This is a clear failure of our disaster management system. It is unacceptable that people have to fend for themselves in such emergencies.”
The disaster management department has faced harsh criticism for their inaction. “Lakhs are being spent on disaster management, yet when disaster strikes they are nowhere to be found,” said Priya Sen another resident. The department’s lack of response raises serious questions about their preparedness and accountability.
The incident has highlighted the pressing need for a more responsive and efficient emergency management system. As residents rally together to address the immediate crisis, the broader issue of infrastructure and administrative readiness looms large, demanding urgent attention and action from the authorities.
