Bant: Residents of Talabanka, a tribal hamlet under this block in Bhadrak district, have warned of boycotting the upcoming panchayat elections citing lack of road connectivity to their village, a report said.
The issue acquired prominence after a pregnant woman had to walk all the way to an ambulance as the vehicle failed to come near her house due to bad condition of the road, the report said.
The incident is suggestive of how bad roads adversely affect people in regard to their health as well as in countless other ways and thus push them into untold sufferings.
Reports said family members of Buduni Munda, 25, wife of Nath Munda of Adivasi Sahi in the village called an ambulance after she experienced labour pain Thursday morning.
The vehicle came near their village but stayed on the main road about 2-km from her house. Left with no options, the woman was made to walk for 2-km to get into the ambulance supported by an ASHA worker and family members by her side.
Later, she arrived at Bant primary health centre (PHC) where she reportedly delivered a child. Chatters were abuzz after reports about the pain and sufferings of the woman were spread.
Sources said a stretch of 2.5 km of road from Balgadhia RD road connecting the Talabanka village had deteriorated to such a level that travelling on it is a commuter’s nightmare. The road has been unrepaired for last 10 years and gets filled up with mud and slush during rainy season making it difficult even for pedestrians to walk. The village is inhabited by 500 people out of which 200 are members from the scheduled tribe community.
The village has a primary school and an Anganwadi centre but lacks proper road connectivity. Things have come to such a pass that vehicle carrying polling party members during election time fail to get inside the village.
Peeved over the development, villagers Nanda Kishore Barik, Kanhu Charan Nayak, Tima Munda, Shankar Munda and Madhu Munda have warned to boycott the upcoming panchayat elections if the road is not repaired before the elections.
When contacted, Nishikanta Khuntia, ABDO, said steps are being taken to repair the road.
PNN