No road to cremation ground: Villagers risk lives to carry bodies across flooded river in Koraput

A heart-wrenching scene has emerged from Bageipadar village under Dasamantapur block in Koraput district, where villagers are seen risking their lives to carry a dead body across a swollen river due to the absence of a proper road or bridge to the cremation ground.

In this remote village, a man recently passed away. As per tradition, his relatives, family members, and neighbours gathered to perform the last rites. However, their path to the cremation site was blocked by the Muran River, which was in spate due to recent rains. With no bridge in place, villagers had no choice but to wade through the dangerous, fast-flowing waters while carrying the body on their shoulders in a makeshift stretcher.

This is not an isolated incident. Such distressing situations have become a regular occurrence for the residents of not only Bageipadar but also nearby villages like Talgadri and Parjagadri. While the river remains passable during the dry season due to low water levels, the monsoon brings extreme hardship. Every time a death occurs during the rains, villagers are forced to brave the river, sometimes waist-deep or more, to perform funeral rites.

The situation has sparked growing concern among locals, who are now demanding urgent intervention from the district administration. They are calling for the immediate construction of a permanent bridge to connect these villages to essential services, including the cremation ground. A bridge, they argue, would not only ensure dignity in death but also greatly improve daily transportation and access to healthcare, education, and markets for all three affected villages.

Many villagers allege that despite several complaints before the administration, their pleas have fallen on deaf ears so far.