For the past five years, residents of Sonal ward in Sanvordem-Sattari have endured severe difficulties during the monsoon season, as the only road linking them to Valpoi town becomes completely submerged whenever the nearby Mhadai River overflows. With floodwaters rising nearly two metres, the ward—home to dozens of families—ends up entirely cut off, with no alternative access route.
This recurring crisis disrupts everyday life, hitting schoolchildren and dairy farmers especially hard. Students commuting to Sanvordem Secondary School and other institutions in Valpoi are often unable to attend classes, while local dairy farmers struggle to deliver milk to the town.
Despite multiple assurances from authorities over the years, the proposed solution—to raise the level of the Sonal-Valpoi road—remains a distant promise. Panchayat members report they have repeatedly contacted the Public Works Department (PWD), which claims that a proposal is in progress. However, no physical work has started, and residents see no signs of change on the ground.
With the monsoon fast approaching, frustration and anxiety are mounting once again. Residents feel neglected and ignored, and are renewing their calls for urgent action. They are demanding that the road be raised without further delay to ensure the community is no longer cut off during the rains.