Visakhapatnam: Angered tribals of Vizianagaram staged a protest demanding roads as a male patient of their village died due to delay in reaching the hospital. The patient was carried on a Doli (makeshift stretcher) crossing rivers, canals and slippery ravines covering a distance of 7 km under heavy rain before reaching the government hospital on Saturday evening. The patient, identified as 40-year-old K. Jogulu, died on Sunday morning.
The village is located outside the Thatipudi Reservoir under Gantyada mandal of Vizianagaram district.
Jogulu, a native of Diguva Kondaparthi village under Gantyada mandal, suffered from acute stomach pain on Saturday. Despite the incessant rains, the villagers decided to shift Jogulu to the government hospital for treatment. Initially they planned to cross the Gosthani river to reach a nearby hospital but their plan proved futile as the Gostani river was in spate due to recent heavy rains.
Jogulu has died because precious time was lost because of delay in reaching the hospital, owing to the lack of road connectivity, proper boats and culverts, said Seethamma, a resident of Diguva Kondaparthi.
Several villages under the Kondaparthi panchayat lack proper road connectivity and healthcare centres. Owing to lack of road connectivity to the villages, those faced with medical emergencies have no other option than to carry the patients like bundles.
