Baharaich residents protest railway crossing closure and waterlogging affecting 25,000 people

Residents of Ward No. 1 in Baharaich took to the streets on Sunday to protest the closure of Railway Crossing 41C and severe waterlogging that has paralysed their neighbourhood. Hundreds of citizens, led by senior local residents from the Chandmari area, marched peacefully to the collectorate and submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate demanding immediate solutions to their mounting problems.

The railway crossing was shut down during a recent time-table change by the railways, forcing residents to use an alternative route that is narrow and encroached upon. The closure has caused severe inconvenience to more than 25,000 people living in the locality, who are also battling acute waterlogging during the monsoon season with no proper drainage system in place. The residents have questioned whether their problems are invisible to the state and district administration despite being taxpayers and voters.

Through the memorandum handed over at the collectorate, the protesters have appealed to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister via the district administration to reopen the crossing, construct a flyover, and establish an adequate drainage system in the area. The residents have expressed frustration that despite repeated complaints, no concrete action has been taken by the authorities to address their daily hardships.

The agitating citizens have also issued a strong warning that if their demands are not met before the upcoming elections, they will boycott the polls. The protest remained peaceful throughout, with residents emphasising that they are law-abiding taxpayers who deserve basic infrastructure and connectivity. Local leaders have urged the administration to take swift action to prevent the situation from escalating further and to restore normalcy in the densely populated ward.