Decades after independence, Barapadar village in Boudh district still lacks basic roads.
Highlighting these severe connectivity issues, villagers recently had to carry a critically injured man on a cot over two kilometres of muddy, rough terrain.
The patient, Bhagaban Kanhar, suffered a severe leg fracture and required immediate medical attention. However, due to severe mobile network disruption, calling for an ambulance proved nearly impossible.
Even if an ambulance had been contacted, the total absence of a motorable road between Barapadar and Damada made it impossible for any four-wheeler to enter the village.
Left with no choice, family members and locals carried Kanhar on a cot through two kilometres of heavy mud to reach the main road, from where he was transported to Boudh hospital in a rented private vehicle.
Family members alleged that Kanhar’s wife passed away just two days prior because they could not arrange timely transportation to a healthcare facility.
According to villagers, local officials have ignored their repeated requests for a paved road and reliable mobile service. The lack of basic infrastructure endangers lives—especially during medical emergencies and heavy rains—prompting locals to demand immediate action to build the Barapadar-Damada road and fix network dead zones.
