Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, May 13: A deeply disturbing incident from the remote hilly area of Budhal in Rajouri district has once again highlighted the grim reality of poor road connectivity and inadequate healthcare facilities in far-flung villages, where patients are still being carried on traditional cots to reach medical facility.
An elderly man from Panchayat Upper Kewal, Kunda Bangla area of Budhal sustained injuries after falling at his residence. However, due to the absence of a motorable road and lack of immediate transport facilities, the injured man could not be shifted to the hospital on time. His condition reportedly deteriorated throughout the night as villagers struggled to arrange manpower and resources to carry him through the mountainous terrain.
The local residents gathered today and carried the elderly patient on a traditional Charpai (cot) across steep, slippery, and rugged hilly path for nearly one and a half hours to reach the nearest healthcare facility. Villagers, including Nazar Hussain, Farooq Ahmad, and Shabir Khan, said the journey was extremely difficult and physically exhausting, but they had no other option due to the absence of road connectivity in the area.
The incident has sparked anger and concern among local residents, who stated that Panchayat Kewal Upper and Kunda Bangla have remained neglected for years without basic infrastructure and essential services. They said that during emergencies, shifting patients, pregnant women, elderly citizens, and accident victims becomes an enormous challenge, often putting lives at serious risk.
Locals alleged that despite repeated appeals and demands, the area continues to suffer due to lack of road construction and inadequate healthcare access. They urged the administration and the government to immediately take concrete steps for the construction of a proper road in the Kewal Upper–Kunda Bangla area and ensure better emergency medical facilities for the residents.
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