No end to plight: Elderly man suffers heat stroke while returning from bank in Bolangir

Barely one month after a video of an elderly woman walking barefoot to a bank with the help of a broken chair to collect pension in Odisha caught everyone’s attention, a similar incident depicting the plight of senior citizens has surfaced in the state.   

An elderly man reportedly fell unconscious on the road after suffering a heat stroke while he was returning home after failing to withdraw allowance from the bank. The incident happened at Kudobhata village under Balpada block in Bolangir district on Friday.

The victim has been identified as Rajaram Hati.

As per reports, Rajaram and his wife Ura had gone to the Belpada State Bank branch to withdraw their monthly allowances. However, they couldn’t withdraw the amount due to some reason and began the homeward journey on foot. 

However, the scorching heat was unbearable for Rajaram and he became senseless along Kudobhata-Padampur road after suffering from a heat stroke.

Luckily, some youths were passing by the road. When Ura cried for their help desperately, they immediately provided first aid to the old man and shifted him to the nearby hospital by calling an ambulance. Following initial treatment, Rajaram’s condition was stated to be stable. 

As per reports, though the State government has instructed the local administration to take necessary steps to deliver the monthly allowance at the doorstep to elderly people, it was alleged that no step has been taken in this direction. 

The reaction of the local administration and bank could be obtained in this regard.