Koraput, Odisha : In the 21st century, where progress and infrastructure define development, a shocking reality persists in Odisha’s tribal heartland. In Baghei Padar village, under Gadia Guda Panchayat of Dashmantpur block in Koraput district, the final rites of the dead are anything but peaceful — they are a battle for dignity.
Recently, a villager passed away in Baghei Padar. But instead of a respectful and solemn farewell, the family had to undertake a perilous journey — carrying the body through chest-deep river water to reach the cremation ground, as there is no road, no bridge, and no safe passage to the other side.
The Muran River, which flows near the village, has no permanent bridge. During the monsoon season, it swells dangerously, making any crossing risky, especially while transporting a deceased loved one. The river must be crossed every single time a death occurs — a grim ritual the villagers have followed for generations.
This cremation ground is not used by just one village. It serves three villages — Gadriguda, Parja Gadriguda, and Baghei Padar, comprising hundreds of families. And yet, even today, they are forced to risk their lives just to conduct last rites.
During the dry season, villagers somehow manage to cross the river on foot. But in the rainy months, the journey turns into a nightmare. The river cuts off the villages from the rest of the world — no access to healthcare, no market, no education, and no essentials.
Villagers have reportedly raised this issue countless times with the local administration, requesting the construction of a permanent bridge and motorable road. But their pleas have been met with silence and neglect.
This is not just about cremating the dead. This is about the living. The absence of basic infrastructure has left these remote communities in social and economic isolation.
Despite 75+ years of independence, places like Baghei Padar are stark reminders of India’s development gap, where even death comes with a struggle.
