Bageshwar Landslide Victims Face Ongoing Hardship With Incomplete Restoration
Residents of the worst-affected villages in Bageshwar's Kanalgarh valley continue to grapple with the aftermath of devastating torrential rains and landslides that struck in August 2025. Despite months passing since the disaster, restoration work remains largely incomplete, severely disrupting daily life and basic services across the region.
Extensive Damage and Human Toll
The catastrophic weather event caused extensive destruction across the Pausari-Baisani belt, sweeping away critical infrastructure including bridges, motor roads, footpaths, irrigation canals, and drinking water pipelines. The financial losses were estimated to run into crores of rupees. Tragically, the disaster claimed five lives, with one victim's body still awaiting recovery.
Incomplete Infrastructure Repairs
Local residents report that seven bridges in the region were completely destroyed during the landslides. They allege that little concrete progress has been made in rebuilding this essential infrastructure, forcing villagers to rely on temporary and potentially dangerous arrangements.
"We are crossing the river using makeshift wooden structures. It is extremely risky, but we have no option. There has been no substantial repair work so far," explained Ishwar Singh, a resident of the affected area.
Monsoon Fears and Official Response
With another monsoon season approaching, villagers fear renewed isolation and hardship without urgent intervention. Pausari village head Devendra Singh expressed frustration with the official response, stating, "Repeated representations to authorities have yielded little beyond assurances. The next monsoon is only a few months away, but officials cite a lack of funds. We are tired of complaining."
Connectivity Crisis in Remote Areas
Connectivity remains a particularly pressing concern in Ghamrigad Tok, home to approximately 40 families. With no safe access route available, residents have resorted to cutting tree branches to create a temporary pathway through the damaged terrain.
"If heavy rains return, our lives will once again come to a standstill. Children's education will suffer the most," said Girish Gadyia, a resident of the area, highlighting the broader social impact of the infrastructure failure.
Partial Cleanup and Budget Constraints
In Pausari village, debris that accumulated in front of a government school following the landslide has been only partially cleared. "The work was left halfway. Now the department says the budget is exhausted," reported Bahadur Ram, another local resident.
Official Acknowledgment and Challenges
District disaster management officer Sikha Suyal acknowledged the extensive damage in the Pausari-Baisani region and the wider Kanalgarh valley. "Restoration work has been affected due to budget constraints. Work will begin once funds are released," she explained, while noting that some departments have managed to carry out partial repairs despite the financial limitations.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by disaster-affected communities in remote regions, where bureaucratic delays and funding shortages can prolong recovery efforts for months or even years after the initial catastrophe.
