TV
In a heartbreaking incident in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, a girl carried her snake-bitten mother on her back for five kilometres through a forest path due to a lack of roads, on Friday. Despite heroic efforts, hospital delays led to the woman’s death.
Also Read: Pregnant woman carried on cot, gives birth before reaching ambulance
According to sources, a tragic incident from the remote Dumeripada village of Mundigada panchayat under Tumudibandh block has spotlighted the deadly consequences of poor infrastructure in tribal Odisha.
A young girl, Rajani Majhi, carried her critically ill mother on her back for 5 Km through a forest trail after a venomous snakebite—but unfortunately, her heroic effort could not save her mother’s life.
The woman, Balamadu Majhi, was bitten by a poisonous snake while sleeping at home late at night. The family immediately dialled the 108-ambulance service. However, due to the absence of motorable roads, the ambulance vehicle could only reach up to Saramundi—eight kilometres away from their village.
With no other option, Rajani hoisted her unconscious mother onto her back and walked five kilometres on a rough jungle path to Saramundi. From there, they took a motorcycle for another three kilometres before reaching the ambulance point.
Balamadu was first taken to Tumudibandh health facility and later shifted to Baliguda Sub-Divisional Hospital (SDH). By the time they arrived, doctors declared her ‘dead’.
Local villagers and the family blamed the death on the lack of proper road connectivity and the delay in accessing emergency healthcare. The grieving family also recalled a similar tragedy earlier when the children lost their father. Now, three brothers and a sister are left orphaned.
After the post-mortem, the family had to carry the body back to the village on a cot due to the same road problems. The case has sparked outrage in the community and renewed calls for urgent infrastructure development in neglected tribal areas.
“A snake bit my mother late last night at around 3.00 AM and she screamed for help. As there is no electricity in our village, there was darkness all around. In the wee hours of today, we called for the 108-ambulance service,” son of the deceased, Benu, said.
“Due to lack of motorable road, the Ambulance vehicle could not come to our house. We had to cover a distance of around eight kilometres to reach the hospital. However, doctors at the health facility declared my mother dead,” the youth stated.
“It was due to improper road connectivity and electricity in our village, we lost our mother. Else, we could have saved her life,” Benu Majhi rued.
