A sick tribal woman from Jhankarguda village in Koraput’s Pottangi Block was carried nearly 7 km on a wooden sling due to the lack of a motorable road.
The woman had been bedridden for several days. As no vehicle or ambulance could reach Jhankarguda due to the rough terrain, her family and villagers carried her in a bamboo sling to the National Highway. They then took an auto-rickshaw to a hospital in nearby Salur, Andhra Pradesh, for treatment.
Jhankarguda is mainly home to tribal families who still lack access to basic connectivity and welfare schemes. Villagers said they have repeatedly appealed to local political leaders and government officials for a basic road, but their requests have not been addressed.
Jhankarguda’s problems were highlighted two months ago. Following the reports, a team led by BDO Ram Krushna Nayak, along with the local Sarpanch and Samiti members, visited the village on August 11, 2026.
Despite the high-profile administrative visit, ground realities remain unchanged. Residents of Jhankarguda continue to risk their lives during medical emergencies, waiting to see when their long-standing ordeal will finally come to an end.
