Villagers in Sant Kabir Nagar protest Kuano bridge closure, demand alternative route

Villagers in Sant Kabir Nagar protested after authorities completely closed the dilapidated Kuano river bridge on the Ramjanaki Marg for repairs, forcing them to detour approximately 30 kilometers instead of the usual one-kilometer route between Baswari and Sikariganj. The closure, implemented gradually over two months, angered residents who claimed ambulances and private vehicles could not reach hospitals on time. Protesters demanded an alternative route be built before the bridge repair, as the structure connects Gorakhpur and Sant Kabir Nagar districts. Responding to the unrest, a bridge corporation engineer arrived at the scene and reopened the bridge temporarily, assuring villagers that proper arrangements would be made considering public interest.