Woman seeks assistance for electrocuted son’s treatment

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Jatni, June 2: More than a month after electrocution claimed life of a man and injured his minor son at Tirimal village here, the widow of Mahendra Behera still awaits government aid.
Mahendra, a resident of Dalit Sahi, and her son were buying chicken from the village market April 19 evening when an electric wire snapped and fell on them after a thunder storm. While Mahendra died on the spot, his 15-year-old son Dipak suffered severe injuries. He is under treatment at SCB Medical College and hospital since then.
Mahendra’s death had triggered a protest with residents resorting to road blockade demanding adequate compensation to the deceased’s family. Due to the mounting pressure, Jatni tehsildar, block development officer and CESU officials had promised to look into the demands. However, the assurances did not yield result till now.
“Now, I realised that all the promises were merely a hogwash,” said the victim’s wife Mina Behera.
Mina said she has two sons and a daughter. Her husband used to work as daily wager. “Now, my family is devastated after my husband’s death,” Mina said.
On the other hand, Dipak suffered 70 per cent burns. The doctors had to amputate his left hand from the elbow due to the burn injuries.
‘‘We have to bear all treatment expenses. I have spent `50,000. I don’t have enough money for his treatment,” Mina lamented.
“As we are poor, nobody is willing to lend us money. Both my parents and in-laws are poor. I am worried how I could run my family,” Mina said as tear rolled down her cheeks.
“The government officials came, gave so many assurances and vanished. Other members of my in-laws’s family have to work as labourer to maintain the family. There is none to look after my son. I am in severe mental distress,” the Dalit widow maintained.
Mina appealed to the government to bear the expenses of her son’s treatment, and demanded a job to one of her family members and financial aid at the earliest. PNN