5-Hour Wonder: 38 Jawans Build Bridge To Reconnect Marooned Gadchiroli Village
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Nagpur: Thirty-eight commandos of Gadchiroli police constructed a 70m-long, 14-foot-wide makeshift bridge in just five hours on July 28 in the marooned Maoist-hit region of Linganoor, near Jhinganoor in Gadchiroli.
The hamlet, 65km off Sironcha in south Gadchiroli, is cut off for four months of the monsoon (June to September) due to an overflowing lake in the adjacent forest, leaving 30-odd families in peril.
The bridge designed for pedestrians, two-wheelers, and small four-wheelers, now serves as a lifeline to ensure access to medical emergencies and uninterrupted education for the tribals. The operation coincided with the first day of the Maoists' annual 'Saheed Saptah' (Martyrs' Week), a seven-day period of heightened tension when Maoists commemorate their fallen comrades and target security forces.
Undeterred by the risks, a young brigade led by sub-inspectors Abhijit Ghorpade, Aniket Khopade, and Omkar Hegde cordoned off the area and executed the mission under challenging circumstances.
Their efforts not only addressed a critical community need, but also won hearts of Linganoor's residents, marking a significant step toward peace in a former Maoist stronghold. The initiative was born out of 'grambhet' — a village visit programme where the cops learned of the hamlet's isolation during the monsoon.
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The overflowing Linganoor tola nullah prevented students from attending school and led to tragic outcomes in medical emergencies.
"We heard stories of students missing months of school and families unable to access timely medical care," said Ghorpade.
The team's resourcefulness was key to the bridge's swift construction. Spotting abandoned cement pipes at a nearby bridge construction site, the commandos, with the contractor's permission, transported eight pipes over 5km to form the bridge's base.
Cement bags were used for bonding, with gravel and pebbles for fortification, and a tractor flattened the surface.
"Most of us come from agricultural families," Ghorpade explained. "We've built bunds and diverted water before, so we applied that practical knowledge here." The 38-member team, supported by a few villagers, completed the bridge before sundown—a critical deadline given the risks posed by the guerrillas' 'saheed saptah.'
SP Neelotpal highlighted the Gadchiroli Police's broader community outreach efforts, which include building roads and other village utilities.
"This bridge is a testament to our commitment to improving lives in a region long affected by conflict," he said.
The operation's timing added complexity, as Maoists are known to be active during their martyrs' week. Yet, the commandos' vigilance ensured the area was secure, allowing them to work in the overflowing nullah and complete the structure in record time.
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