Bedam villagers made a wooden ladder to patch up the bridge over the Konar river, which was damaged some five years ago after Maoists had blown up a part of it, snapping the connectivity of two dozen villages from the Tatijharia block headquarters.

Officials had failed to take steps of restoration, which created a tough time for villagers who wanted to cross the river, especially in the monsoon season, leading residents to solve the problem in this unique and effective way.

Local youths had called a meeting to decide the fate of the damaged bridge.

Among them were Ramlal Mahto, Kartik Mahto, Premchand Mahto, Ajay, Nirmal Mahto, Bodhi Mahto, Tuleshwar Kumar, Nirmal. Mahendra, Manoj, Mahavir, Moti Mahto, Kishun Mahto, Shankar, Kailash, Shyamlal, Pappu, Talo, Shankar Turi, Lakhan, Hulas Mahto and others called a meeting to decide as what to do seeing this big problem.

They agreed to make a wooden bridge connecting the damaged bridge, and youths made a ladder and placed it in a manner for convenient use.

Premchand said they all contributed to and started this work ,which finally ended two days ago.

Villages like Bedam, Julmi, Palma, Ango, Churchu, Tutki, Kemo, Gobindpur, Chatrochatti, Paranga, Mangarpatta, Hurlung, Jobhi, Simra, Khurangdih and few others heaved sigh of relief.

Villagers said they ran from pillar-to-post, but officials didn’t take any action.

Nevertheless, where there is a will there's a way, they added.

However, two wheelers and four wheelers are still stranded.

“For this, we are again working and soon come up with a solution similar to this wooden ladder”, said a villager.

Kailash said they have sent out a message to the administration, that they have the guts to deal with problems in their own way.

“Instead of waiting for officials’ help, we acted on our own and completed the work”, he said.