Latehar, Jharkhand: A tragic incident unfolded in the Latehar district of Jharkhand, where a 45-year-old woman, Shanti Kujjur, died while being carried to a hospital on a ‘charpoy’ by her relatives. The lack of proper road infrastructure in Baseria village, Mahuatand block, prevented ambulances from reaching the area, forcing her family to transport her in this manner.
Local Block Development Officer (BDO) Amren Dang described the incident as “very sad” and stated that he is gathering details to address the issue. He assured that basic problems, including the construction of a road, will be prioritized.
Shanti Kujjur had been suffering from fever and body aches for several days and complained of chest pain on Monday morning. Her husband, Remish Minz, and other relatives decided to take her to a hospital approximately four kilometers away, carrying her on a charpoy due to the lack of accessible roads.
Despite the proximity of a community health center, locals allege that it lacks proper infrastructure. Dr. Amit Khalko, in charge of Mahuatand Hospital, confirmed that Shanti Kujjur was dead on arrival and had died of a heart attack.
Dharmendra Singh, a former panchayat committee member of Durup Panchayat, claimed that the administration had ignored the villagers’ demands for a proper road for decades. He lamented that had there been a proper road, Shanti Kujjur might still be alive.
A villager explained the dire situation: “We have to take patients on our shoulders carrying them in charpoys as we do not have an accessible road to reach the main road. Ambulances do not come because of the road condition.”
In response, the BDO has instructed medical teams, village heads (mukhiyas), and panchayat officials to ensure immediate action to improve the situation.