They make treacherous treks in the rain in search of facilities
The Hindu
Several villages, such as Tagti, are cut off this time of year
Rathnamma, 56, a resident of Tagti in Bhanukuli Gram Panchayat of Sagar taluk fell ill last week. Family members and neighbours felt she should be taken to a hospital as there was fear of the COVID-19 pandemic. With no option to take her by vehicle, her family members ferried her for more than 3 km on their shoulders in a makeshift stretcher. Ms. Rathnamma’s husband Narayana and neighbours Ravi, Beerappa and Nagappa carried her up to Kanuru, crossing the hilly terrain and braving the rain. She is undergoing treatment at Sagar. “This is nothing new for us. It has been the situation during the rainy season for decades,” said Kalyan Kumar, a farmer who lives in Halmi, a neighbouring village. Whenever someone falls sick suddenly in this village of 15 houses, the relatives carry the patient to Kanur, from where they can get access to vehicles. “The path is also narrow and slippery. We somehow manage to take vehicles on the path during summer, but it is impossible in the rainy season,” he said.More Related News