Fear grips Nilambur’s tribal hamlets as monsoon nears

130 tribal families in Nilambur forests face isolation and danger during monsoon, awaiting completion of crucial bridge construction.

Around 130 tribal families living in four isolated settlements across the Chaliyar River in the Nilambur forests near Munderi are bracing for the monsoon with fear and uncertainty. Many of them live in makeshift shelters in the forest with tarpaulin roofs. They face the daunting prospect of being cut off from the mainland when monsoon rains swell the Chaliyar and make crossing impossible.

Ever since the devastating floods of 2019 swept away the bridges connecting the tribal hamlets of Kumbalappara, Vaniyampuzha, Tharippapotti, and Iruttukuthy, the 130 families have been depending on bamboo rafts to cross the Chaliyar. Crossing the swollen river during the monsoon on a raft is extremely risky.

The State government has begun bridge construction after years of pleas and the Kerala High Court’s intervention, aiming to address the isolation of the tribal families. The bridge construction near the Vaniyampuzha forest station is currently halfway completed.

“We dread the monsoon’s fury. Even the concrete pillars of the ongoing bridge construction can be hazardous when we navigate the river on our bamboo raft,” said K.V. Sudha, a senior member of the 43 families in the Vaniyampuzha settlement.

Women and children suffer the most without a bridge to reach the mainland. “In the monsoon, men may manage to navigate the strong currents, but it will be really difficult for women and children. We have had emergencies before when crossing the swollen river on a raft, risking our lives,” said Ms. Sudha.

Construction of solid houses for the tribespeople of Vaniyampuzha is currently facing technical hurdles in connection with the forest rights issue. Forest officials said that as soon as the documents are cleared, the house construction can begin.

Despite a new well being constructed at Vaniyampuzha, the water remains untreated and unfit for consumption. The community still relies on forest water sources. “We still face a serious water issue, relying on forest sources despite living on a riverbank,” said Ms. Sudha.