Local resident Ganesh confirmed the trend. "People started leaving because facilities were never provided. Some are now in Delhi, others in Lucknow. Our family stayed until last year, but we have now moved closer to the main road."

Lalita Prasad Joshi added that if proper infrastructure existed, villagers could have thrived through horticulture, cultivating kiwi, ginger, oranges, and fish farming.

Bageshwar’s Chief Development Officer, R.C. Tiwari, acknowledged the crisis. "Under the migration prevention scheme, we have selected affected villages for employment-generating projects. We will hold a meeting to investigate the specific reasons for Chauni’s complete emptying and will strive to repopulate it," Tiwari assured.

Despite official promises, Chauni sees life only once a year. Locals believe their ancestral deities reside in their native homes. Every summer, those who migrated return for eight to ten days to perform rituals. During this brief period, paths are cleared, hearths are lit, and the village briefly awakens, before sinking back into profound silence.