Daringbadi: Tension prevailed at Katingia panchayat under this block in Kandhamal district after a youth was electrocuted Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Sumant Padra (20) of Panaspadar.
In the absence of a proper road, locals carried him 12 km in a sling to the panchayat office from where he was taken by an ambulance to the local primary health centre (PHC), only to find the doctor absent.
Not losing hope, family members tried to shift him to Daringbadi community health centre (CHC). However, he died mid-way to the CHC.
“The incident not only brings to light the dilemma that rural people go through in absence of proper road communication but also the difficulties they face in the absence of doctors,” said Katingia sarpanch.
“We had kept him alive and carried him on shoulders for 12 km, but the absence of doctor claimed his life,” he further added.
A case of unnatural death was registered and the body was sent for post-mortem. According to sources, after 15 days of darkness, the panchayat got power while Panaspadar, located 12 km away, is still in dark.
Assuming some wire had snapped, Sumant along with his friends set off to locate the snapped wire. He was rendered critical after he came in contact with a livewire while he was trying to remove a branch that had fallen on a wire.
The incident spread tension in the area. People blamed it on the negligence of the power department. Meanwhile, no officials from the power department reached the village to take stock of the situation adding to the outrage among locals. “A case has been registered and a probe has been launched,” investigating officer R Bhimorao Reddy said. PNN
