Poor rural roads in West Bengal blamed for accidents, fatalities ahead of monsoon

Poor road conditions in West Bengal causing fatalities, blamed on lack of maintenance and political promises unfulfilled.

Even before the monsoon has officially arrived in West Bengal, poor road conditions in rural areas are causing difficulties for commuters across the State and are being blamed for the loss of lives in several districts.

On June 6, a woman in Paschim Medinipur’s Debra lost her husband after an ambulance could not enter their village due to bad roads, forcing them to carry him on a makeshift cot. The man’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and he died on the way to the hospital.

The deceased, Badal Mandi’s family, had tried to cover the damaged road stretch on the cot and were attempting to transfer him to a car when he succumbed.

His wife, Putul Mandi, attributed her husband’s death to the poor road conditions. “There was no transport, we had to put him in a cot and transport him. There is so much slippery mud on the road that motor vehicles cannot enter the area,” she said. She also alleged that residents in the locality are left with no option but to use makeshift arrangements during medical emergencies.

Also read: Road collapse and pipeline burst leaves residents homeless, sans water in Bengal’s Howrah

Local government officials, however, disputed the claims, saying the road conditions are not as bad as reported. “Four-wheelers have always run on that road. It is not true that the road conditions are bad. It’s an earthen road, it has become muddy due to the rains, but ambulance cannot enter is not true. We will repair the bad patches,” said Block Development Officer Priyabrata Rahri.

Residents in several rural parts of West Bengal have alleged that political parties promise good roads during elections, but the situation remains unchanged.