A tragic incident in Rayagada district has highlighted the dismal state of health services in the region.
A fourth-grade student from a Sevashram residential school died of malaria, and his father was forced to carry the boy’s body on a motorcycle to their village after an ambulance failed to arrive.
The deceased student has been identified as Chandu Ulaka of Lalbi village. He was studying at the Dokuluguda Sevashram.
According to reports, Chandu had been suffering from high fever for the past few days. A blood sample test conducted at the school on Monday confirmed he had malaria. School authorities administered medicine and informed his family.
On Tuesday, Chandu’s father, Ramesh Ulaka, arrived at the school and took his son home. However, shortly after reaching home, the boy’s condition deteriorated rapidly. The family immediately rushed him to the Kolnara Community Health Centre, where he was declared dead during treatment.
Following the death, the grieving family contacted authorities for an ambulance to transport the body back to Lalbi village. Despite waiting for a long time, the ambulance did not arrive. Left with no other option, father Ramesh Ulaka carried his son’s body on a motorcycle to their village.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and sharp condemnation across the area. Many have criticised the poor state of emergency health services and the unavailability of ambulances in the district.
However, the headmaster of the Sevashram school, Buddhadeb Tadhingi, defended the institution, stating that Chandu had received proper initial treatment and medication at the school.
The tragedy has once again raised serious questions about the deteriorating condition of healthcare infrastructure and emergency services in Rayagada district, especially in rural and tribal-dominated blocks like Kolnara.
