Bijepur: A physically-challenged man, who had been lying on his tricycle in the open owing to his advanced age and poor health for five days, has been rescued by members of a local social organisation in Bargarh district.
Biranchi Tandi, the rescued man, who was found lying at Mama Square near Kharmunda in Bijepur block of Bargarh, was first treated at Bijepur community health centre (CHC) and then shifted to Bargarh district headquarters hospital (DHH) where he is presently undergoing treatment.
The 70-year-old man from Kanadihi is all alone. His parents took care of him until he was 60. However, after their deaths, he has been living on alms. A recent road mishap made his condition worse.
He used to receive old age pension and rice under Annapurna yojana. At times, his neighbours used to offer him food. Last month he had to take shelter at a relative’s house at Ghens as rainwater started leaking through the roof of his decrepit hut.
Last Monday, he had been to T Gandapali panchayat to collect PDS rice. His relatives had asked him to return to Kanadihi after getting the rice.
On his way back, he found it difficult to negotiate his tricycle on the road connecting Kanadihi with T Gandapali as it was full of craters. Finding no help at sight, he stayed put at Mama Square awaiting help under sun and rain.
While none of the passersby took note of his plight, coming to know of him from social media platforms featuring him in a video, some activists of a social outfit rose to the occasion. They gave him some food and brought him onto the verandah of a shop Friday.
PNN