Tribals traverse this rural slushy road facing official apathy

When rainy season starts, the woes of 80 and odd tribal families spread over four villages hit the sky. The only road that connects Kaaragadde to Nadugudige, Heradike, Kemmanahali and Halthattu through Nadugidge turns into a marshy field. The slush poses a problem to pedestrians and vehicle users alike.

For tribals, it is the only way to avail of many facilities available outside. If anybody in these villages falls sick, it becomes inevitable to carry them on shoulders to hospitals. There are also instances of some patients losing their lives on the way to hospital, due to delay in medical help.

Sripalaiah, a villager from Haddinamakki, complained that the road remains neglected as it does not connect to the house of any prominent person in the region. A stretch of one kilometre of the road suffers from official apathy.

The issue has been raised in the Gram Sabha meeting at Kalasa and was also brought to the notice of the district in-charge minister, the deputy commissioner, the legislators and others. But it has fallen on deaf ears.

Not less than 50 children tread the road on their way to school at Kalasa, Gundappa, a resident, said highlighting the intensity of the situation. People take utmost precaution while traversing the dangerous stretch, and sometimes spend an entire day travelling to and fro to collect either monthly ration or to visit hospitals.

In spite of all these difficulties faced by villagers, there are no attempts from the authorities concerned to at least prepare an estimate to repair the stretch. If the authorities continue to remain nonchalant to take up repair works after the rainy season, organising people to launch a movement is the only way left, the villagers said.