Odisha BDO treks 3 Km hill to reach remote village, shocked by residents’ plight

In a remarkable effort to assess ground realities, Daspalla Block Development Officer (BDO) Sarat Mallick trekked nearly three kilometres uphill to reach the remote Gambhariganda village under Kulurukumpa Panchayat in Nayagarh district.

Upon reaching the village, the BDO was reportedly shocked to witness the distressing living conditions of the residents. The villagers are grappling with an acute lack of basic amenities, including drinking water, electricity and proper housing.

As per reports, more than 40 people reside in the village, yet they continue to live without access to essential facilities. Despite repeated complaints by the villagers, their issues remain unresolved.

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To personally verify the situation, the BDO undertook the challenging trek to the hilly and inaccessible area. He was accompanied by Assistant Engineer Sanatan Bhol, PEO Madhab Pradhan and Sarpanch Ashok Nayak.

After visiting the area, the BDO said, “For the first time in my service career, I have climbed a hill to visit such a remote area. The problems of the villagers will be addressed at the earliest.”

The visit has raised fresh concerns over the lack of basic infrastructure in remote pockets of the district, even as authorities have assured prompt action to resolve the issues.