Bride walks 3km through muddy road, groom carried on shoulders in Odisha!

In a shocking yet symbolic display of rural neglect, a newlywed couple in Odisha's Bhadrak district had to endure a muddy 3-km trek yesterday as their wedding procession waded through slush-filled roads. With no proper road access, locals were forced to carry the groom on their shoulders, sources said on Thursday.

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According to sources, in Bhadrak district’s Chandbali block, the villagers from Dhrubapalli’s Mandal Sahi witnessed an unusual wedding scene. A young groom, Shatrughna Mandal, married Ruma Patra from Harishpur. However, celebrations were marred by the deplorable condition of the village road, which was a paddy field than a thoroughfare.

Due to the knee-deep mud, traditional elements like a decorated wedding car, a DJ music band, or procession lights were absent. Even the groom's friends and extended family refused to accompany him to the bride’s home. Ultimately, the groom had to be carried on villagers’ shoulders, replacing the customary wedding procession.

After a temple wedding, the return to the groom’s home was even more painful. The bride had to be carefully escorted by a group of women through the muddy road. The 3-kilometer route connecting Dhrubapalli to the main road remains in such poor condition that even walking through it requires great caution.

Despite over 75 years of independence, around 30 families in this village still lack a basic paved road. Frustrated by repeated neglect, the villagers have now warned that they will boycott future elections if the administration fails to act promptly and construct a proper all-weather road for them.

This incident has exposed the ground realities of rural Odisha.

When contacted, Chandbali BDO Sanjib Mohapatra said, “The Number of families in the village who are using that road is about 12-15. There is no government land available. The length of the road is about 500 metres, and earlier it was a causeway between two farmlands.”

“The farmland belongs to private owners. Soil was cast before the onset of the rainy season for the convenience of the locals. Due to incessant rains, the causeway has widened. After rain subsides, we will carry out soil filling to make the road accessible,” the BDO stated.

Reported By: Trilochan Sahoo