In a shocking incident at Tabarsingh village in tribal-dominated Rayagada block of Gajapati district, an old woman was swept away by currents while crossing a canal on a wooden pole.
She was identified as Gurubari Raika (60). She was crossing on the wooden pole to go to her daughter’s village, Pakata, on Sunday.
The pole was made up of date-palm tree and wood. While crossing, she fell down as the pole was broken. Due to heavy rainfall in last two to three days, the canal was full of water and the victim was swept away. Villagers fished out the body later. Rayagada block’s limarsingh village and nearby villages like, Tabarsingh, limarsingh, Patilida, Dimirisahi, Arutanga, Alojhol, Kuduma are known for their remoteness and there is lack of connectivity. In order to reach these villages, the people cross canal through the pole. This pole was made by the team work of the villagers. The villagers alleged that though they had knocked at the door of the authorities starting from Sarapanch to MlA to BDO for construction of a bridge, but in vain.
Notably, from Badatundi village under the block, the villagers carried the body of a person on their shoulder and crossed the Jalang river to reach their village due to lack of road connectivity.
The children of Tabarsingh village and limirsingh area are having their schooling unto primary class in their village and travel nearly 2 km by crossing the dangerous pole to reach to their school for higher studies.
