Phulbani, Sep 6: In a heart-wrenching incident from Odisha’s Kandhamal district, a group of villagers had to carry a pregnant woman on a stretcher across a flooded river to reach an ambulance on Saturday, as their village lacks proper road connectivity.

As per reports, the woman, identified as Nandini Pradhan from Gudari Padi village under K-Nuagaon block, experienced severe labour pain. Her family contacted emergency services, but the ambulance could not reach the village due to the absence of a motorable road. With no other option, villagers risked their lives to carry her across the Baranei river, navigating strong currents and slippery terrain.

Villages Cut Off by River

This is not an isolated case. Residents of Gudari Padi, Bandes Padar, and Sugamaha—all under Gunjibadi Panchayat—continue to suffer due to the lack of a concrete road. The Kadipenu river, which swells during monsoon, has become a daily hazard for villagers who must cross it for basic needs, including medical emergencies.

The villagers alleged that no permanent solution has yet been provided for all-weather road connectivity to their villages despite repeated complaints from pillar to post. They also said that the resident including women and children routinely risk their lives to cross the river, especially during floods, to access healthcare, education, and markets.

Also Read: No Road, No Choice: Pregnant Woman Carried On Cot In Koraput

Health Officials Respond

Doctors Jogeswar Behera and Bhubanananda Behera from the K-Nuagaon Community Health Center said the woman was safely reached the hospital and received medical attention. However, they acknowledged the urgent need for road infrastructure to prevent such life-threatening situations.

Local leaders, including Dhobaleswar Patra, the block vice-chairman, and villagers like Nigamananda Pujari and Dilip Pradhan, have voiced frustration over the lack of development in the tribal-dominant region. The incident has reignited calls for immediate road construction and bridge connectivity in the remote areas across the state.