Residents of Ghadi Lajja village, situated in the Sahrauli Gram Panchayat of Bari subdivision in Dholpur district, Rajasthan, have been enduring severe hardships for the past two years due to a completely dilapidated main road. The village's primary thoroughfare has broken down into a hazardous stretch filled with deep, crater-like potholes. During the rainy season, these potholes become entirely submerged under stagnant water, masking their true depth from commuters. As a result, unsuspecting pedestrians and drivers frequently fall victim to serious accidents, sustaining physical injuries on a regular basis.
Lack of Drainage Causes 1.5-Foot Deep Waterlogging
Civic infrastructure in Ghadi Lajja has virtually collapsed due to severe administrative negligence. According to local residents, the village completely lacks an effective or planned drainage mechanism. Existing village drains remain entirely choked and non-functional, causing rainwater mixed with domestic wastewater to spill onto the main road. At several locations along the route, water accumulates to depths of nearly 1.5 feet. Because the water submerges the structural damage, two-wheeler riders face the greatest threat, often plunging unexpectedly into concealed holes and losing control of their vehicles.
Vital Link Connecting Over 50 Villages Severely Impaired
Highlighting the strategic importance of the route, local resident Chhotu Ram Sharma stated that the road passing through Ghadi Lajja serves as a vital arterial corridor connecting the Saipau Panchayat Samiti to the Basedi subdivision. Hundreds of small and heavy vehicles rely on this road every day, making it the primary connectivity route for residents across more than 50 surrounding villages. The current ruinous state of the highway has disrupted regional transportation. Another villager, Ramveer Parmar, noted that even heavy commercial vehicles routinely get stuck in the cavernous mud-filled pits, requiring arduous collective effort by local villagers to pull them out safely.
Schoolchildren at Risk Amid Superficial Administrative Fixes
The persistent waterlogging and broken infrastructure pose a grave danger to young school children who must tread this dangerous path daily to reach the local government school. Children frequently slip into the filthy, water-logged depressions, soaking their uniforms, hurting themselves, and being forced to skip classes. Local resident Guddu voiced sharp indignation over the official response, accusing authorities of total apathy. He pointed out that whenever complaints are raised, administrative teams merely perform superficial formalities by dumping loose gravel on the road. This temporary patch up washes away within days during rainfall. Frustrated by recurring hazards, the villagers have jointly appealed to the Dholpur district administration and the local gram panchayat to construct a permanent asphalt road alongside a durable, paved drainage network.
