Villagers carry sick woman on stretcher for more than 50 kms due to lack of proper road
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, September 27 2018: The village youths of Hangao Kaphung had no choice but to carry a sick woman on a bamboo stretcher formore than 50 kms to reach the nearest taxi point in Roni village to evacuate the sick to the Ukhrul DistrictHospital for immediate medical attention.

According to reports, the village youth numbering twenty of them, on September 24, carried the sick woman named Ramthingla Zimik, aged about 65 years, on a bamboo stretcher the whole day to reach Roni village for next morning taxi to go to Ukhrul District Hospital.

Speaking to this correspondent, Ningkhan, cousin of the ailing woman (Ramthingla), expressed the untold pain and sufferings of the remote villages in the extreme east of Ukhrul District.

Beside incurring huge medical expenditure, the patient family had to spend additional expenses for transportation and food for the youths who volunteered.

He said the taxi charged Rs 10,000 due to deteriorated condition of the road.

Ramthingla was diagnosed with urinary problem and others.

Ningkhan, the cousin, blames the authorities concerned and the State Government for all the inconveniences the villagers are facing citing poor maintenance and construction of the PMGSY road.

Despite the Government's objective to connect all villages with accessible roads under PMGSY programme, the authorities concerned have failed to adhere to the respective guidelines of the programme, he alleged.

According to him, the more than 100 km stretch of PMGSY road from Shirui to the last village Kachouphung is in dilapidated condition.

No effort has been so far taken up by the authorities concerned to repair and reconstruct the stretch, he said.

Portions of the road - Chammu via Ronshak, Sahamphung, Matiyang and Roni have been washed away by landslides, he said.

The road with no proper drainage systems, breast wall, ring culverts was washed away due to uneven water flow during the monsoon season, he said.

Saying that the nearest PHSC Centre for Hangao Kaphung village is Chammu, Haoreingam added that doctors and nurses 'seldom' visit the centre.

Even though Sahamphung village is upgraded Sub-Divisional Block Headquarters, there is no CHC, he said.

The villagers had apprised the concerned MLA - 43 AC Leishiyo Keishing to look into the grievances of the villages, however there has been no development so far regarding improvement of the said inter villages road.

The PMGSY road serves only in the dry season.

During monsoon, the villages are 'completely' cut off from the District Headquarters, he said.

The villagers appealed the State Government for immediate intervention in order to make the only lifeline of Sambu area villages an all-weather road.

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