Residents of Kallakututtykudi village in Mankulam, Kerala, continue to use a temporary bamboo bridge to cross the Nallathanni River [1].
This reliance on a fragile structure highlights a critical failure in long-term disaster recovery and infrastructure restoration for rural communities in India. The lack of a permanent crossing restricts access to essential services and endangers the safety of the local population.
The village's original concrete bridge was washed away during the Kerala floods in 2018 [1]. Despite the passage of eight years [2], the permanent structure has not been rebuilt. The bamboo bridge now serves as the sole point of transit for the community [1].
Local children are forced to navigate the unstable bamboo crossing daily to reach their schools [2]. The structure is also the only way for residents to access healthcare services, and local markets [2]. The temporary nature of the bridge creates a persistent risk for those crossing the river, especially during periods of heavy rain.
Community members have had to manage the crossing independently since the 2018 disaster [1]. The continued absence of a government-led reconstruction project leaves the village isolated from the broader infrastructure of the Mankulam region [1].
“Residents of Kallakuttykudi village in Mankulam, Kerala, continue to use a temporary bamboo bridge to cross the Nallathanni River.”
The situation in Kallakuttykudi illustrates a gap between immediate disaster relief and permanent reconstruction. While emergency measures like bamboo bridges provide temporary utility, the eight-year delay in restoring a concrete bridge suggests systemic delays in rural infrastructure funding or execution following the 2018 floods.
