Women risk lives crossing steel wire over swollen river to reach farms in Arunachal's Anjaw

A video from Arunachal Pradesh's Anjaw district has brought into focus the lack of basic infrastructure in one of the country's easternmost border regions, showing women crossing the swollen Ampani River by crawling along a steel wire to access their agricultural fields.
 

The footage, shows several women using ropes for support as they make their way across the river. With no bridge connecting their villages to the fields, the steel wire serves as a makeshift crossing.
 

Residents said the crossing is used regularly, particularly by farmers, and becomes increasingly dangerous during the monsoon when the river swells and currents intensify.
 

The video has renewed concerns over the absence of permanent connectivity in remote parts of Anjaw, where access to agricultural land, healthcare, schools and markets continues to depend on fragile infrastructure.
 

Border districts such as Anjaw remain among the most geographically challenging regions in Arunachal Pradesh, with many villages relying on temporary crossings and seasonal routes. During the monsoon, overflowing rivers often cut off habitations, disrupting movement and access to essential services.
 

The visuals have prompted renewed calls for the construction of permanent bridges and all-weather roads to improve connectivity and reduce the risks faced by residents in their daily lives.