Dasamantapur: Villagers of Paduguda village under Lulla panchayat in Dasamantapur block of Koraput district carried a 30-year-old man on a cot for 3km Monday after he was bitten by a snake while grazing cattle near Ajaghat hill.
The victim, Naveen Saunta, son of Sarathi Saunta, was critical and had to be carried to the Dasamantapur community health centre for treatment due to lack of proper road and delayed ambulance service.
According to villagers, Naveen was bitten by a snake on his right hand while grazing cattle about half a kilometre away from his home. Hearing his cries, other herders alerted his father, who, along with villagers, carried him on a cot over rough terrain to Lulla village square. An ambulance had been contacted but failed to arrive even after an hour-long wait. From Lulla, Naveen was transported by an auto-rickshaw arranged by a local resident to the health centre.
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Doctors said Naveen received preliminary treatment and would be transferred to the district headquarters hospital if necessary. Villagers said more than 85 tribal families live in Paduguda without proper road connectivity.
Despite repeated written and verbal complaints to block officials, district administration, and political leaders over the years, no action has been taken to improve road access, they added.
PNN