Fifth Patient in a Month Carried on Bamboo Stretcher in Kerala Tribal Panchayat
A 33-year-old man was carried 7 km on a bamboo stretcher in Edamalakkudy, the fifth such case in a month, highlighting poor connectivity.
Edamalakkudy, Kerala's first tribal panchayat, witnessed yet another emergency transport of a patient on a makeshift bamboo stretcher on Saturday evening, underscoring the persistent lack of motorable roads in the region.
Villagers carried 33-year-old Ajay from the Nooradykudy settlement nearly seven kilometres through dense forest to reach a hospital. Ajay had been suffering from high fever for several days before the decision was made to move him.
This is the fifth such incident reported in the panchayat since August 12. On August 31, 40-year-old Sumathi from Parappayarkudy was carried over seven kilometres to the Munnar General Hospital. Earlier, on August 22, Rajathi, 33, was transported over five kilometres, including a crossing of the Manaliyar river, to reach the primary health centre at Edamalakkudy.
On August 14, Poomani, 50, was carried to the health facility at Societykudy after her condition deteriorated. The first incident in this recent spate occurred on August 12, when 75-year-old Malayappan was carried nearly 10 kilometres to Mankulam before being transferred to the Adimaly Taluk Hospital.
Residents say that without bridge connectivity and proper roads linking the various settlements, carrying patients on bamboo stretchers through steep slopes and jungle paths remains the only viable option for ensuring timely medical care.