1 dies, culvert caves in as rain pounds Chatra

Chatra: Heavy rain in the district over the last three days has affected normal life with a culvert, which was the lifeline for dozens of villages, being washed away by the gushing water in Itkhori block on Friday. A 55-year-old man, who went to take a bath in a rain-fed river, also drowned in Mayurhund, on Thursday. His body was fished out on Friday and district officials assured that benefits would be provided to his kin according to the government provisions.Officials said the rain washed away the culvert on the Bhadrakali-Tulbul road in Kanhachatti block over the Dumartari river. This bridge was damaged three months ago by heavy vehicles plying on the road but the villagers repaired it through “shramdan”.On Friday, Ram Sewak Mahto, a villager, said the culvert was washed away by the gushing water. He said they have to cross it to reach the Itkhori block headquarters, the distance of which is only 10 km. “Now, we have to take a detour which means the distance will now be 30 km,” he added.In the Mayuhund block incident, the elderly man identified as Shambhu Chandravanshi drowned in the Karkara river while taking a bath on Thursday afternoon. Chandravanshi shouted for help after which those nearby rushed to help him. However, the strong current swept him away. Later, his family members found slippers, gamchcha, clothes and other belongings on the river bank.The family members then informed block development officer Saket Kumar Sinha and Mayurhund police station officer-in-charge Sanjay Kumar Singh. The officials came to the spot for an inquiry but the water level had increased and the search operation could not start.The operation by local divers started only on Friday evening after which the body was fished out. The body was handed over to relatives after a post-mortem at the Chatra sadar hospital. Sinha assured of help to the family as per government provisions.Besides these two incidents, many kutcha houses were also damaged by the incessant rain in different blocks of the district.

Chatra villagers carry patient on cot across river for hospitalisation

Residents of Hesatu village in Chatra, Jharkhand carried an accident victim, Munarik Baiga, on a cot across a stream and a rain-fed river to reach an ambulance waiting on the other side. The village has no proper roads, and the nearest health center is 4 kilometers away with no bridge over the river. The incident highlights the lack of infrastructure and healthcare services in remote areas. Similar incidents have occurred, such as a pregnant woman in Bokaro district being carried on a cot for 3 kilometers, resulting in the death of her baby.

Residents block road over water supply

Residents of Agrahara Samakulam in Coimbatore staged a protest, blocking a road, due to a month-long water shortage in their area. The issue began when a pipeline used for supplying drinking water broke, and even after repair, the water was not pumped to the overhead tank. The protesters dispersed after police and officials promised to resolve the problem. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by residents in different regions regarding water supply.

Mans body fished out from river

The body of a man who jumped from a bridge into the Brahmani river in Rourkela, India, was found two days later. Bijay Gupta, 40, suddenly jumped from the bridge on Friday evening, prompting passers-by to inform the police. A search team was deployed but was unable to locate the body until residents of Jamkoshi noticed it floating in the river on Sunday. The body was identified as Gupta's.

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