Bhawanipatna: The mortal remains of a 54-year-old man had to be carried in chest-deep water for cremation due to the absence of a culvert at a village in Odisha’s Kalahandi district.
The incident came to light at Beheraguda village under Khamarhaldi gram panchayat of Golamunda block on Friday after the death of Santa Rana, reports said
The cremation ground in the area is located on the bank of Tel river. The residents of the village have to cross a river stream named Bharanganala to reach the bank of Tel for performing the last rites.
As the area witnessed severe waterlogging following heavy downpour for the past few days, the family members and relatives of Rana faced much difficulty while proceeding to the cremation ground with the body.
Owing to the absence of a culvert over the stream, the family members were compelled to wade through chest-deep water for around 400 metre to reach the cremation ground, sources said adding Wooden logs for the rituals were also ferried in a similar manner.
Encountering similar problems during heavy downpour due to the absence of a culvert, the villagers have drawn the attention of the panchayat and block authorities. Block chairman of Golamunda Bindu Mahanand said there is no culvert over the river stream to meet the basic needs of the villagers. The local MLA and the Department of Rural Development have been apprised about the situation and appropriate steps are being taken.
The need for construction of a culvert over the river stream which is estimated to cost around Rs 40 lakh, has been emphasised, according to Mahanand.
