Bhubaneswar, Nov 27: In a stark reminder of the persistent gaps in rural healthcare accessibility, an elderly woman in Khutenpani village under Tangarpali block of Sundargarh district had to be carried on a stretcher for nearly two kilometres to reach an ambulance. The incident highlights how inadequate road infrastructure continues to hinder timely medical support, despite the availability of advanced healthcare systems in the state.

The woman, identified as Phulmani Majhi, reportedly fell inside her home and sustained serious injuries. Her family members immediately contacted ambulance services, but the vehicle was unable to reach her residence as the approach road was severely damaged and inaccessible. With no other option left, villagers came together and carried Majhi on a makeshift stretcher through uneven terrain to the ambulance waiting at a distant motorable point.

The heart-wrenching visuals from the village have brought attention to the daily struggles faced by residents in remote areas when seeking urgent medical care. Locals have urged the administration to improve road connectivity and ensure that such incidents do not recur, stressing that timely access to healthcare is a basic right, not a privilege.

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