Bari: Family members and locals Wednesday carried an elderly sick woman on a makeshift sling through floodwaters for about 2km after an ambulance failed to reach her village in Bari block of Jajpur district, highlighting the difficulties faced by flood-affected residents in accessing emergency healthcare.
According to reports, Hemalata Samal, a resident of Dhia Sahi under Balibila panchayat, fell seriously ill and needed immediate medical attention, prompting her family to call an ambulance.
However, the ambulance could not reach the village because of the heavy water flow on the connecting road owing to the recent floods.
Finding no other option, family members placed Samal on a makeshift sling and carried her through the floodwaters to the main road.
She was then taken to a temporary health centre set up at Bari block office, where she underwent preliminary treatment.
The incident has underscored the plight of residents in several flood-hit villages in Bari, which have remained cut off from the outside world for four days.
Submerged roads have disrupted transportation and made it difficult for seriously ill patients to reach medical facilities.
The flood has also disrupted health services across the area and raised questions about the administration’s preparedness.
Residents of several villages are facing shortages of safe drinking water and essential commodities.
Government relief and rescue operations have yet to reach many affected areas, residents said.
Meanwhile, reports of black-marketing of essential commodities have also emerged, with some traders allegedly selling essential items at inflated prices.