Villagers Carry Deceased Man for 5 km Due to Lack of Road Access

Karwar: A tragic incident in Guddehalli village, which suffers from a lack of proper road infrastructure, has highlighted the urgent need for development in the area. On Sunday, villagers were forced to transport the body of Rama Manna Gowda (60) for five kilometres after he suffered a heart attack late on Saturday night.

Despite efforts to rush him to the district hospital, Gowda was declared dead on arrival. An ambulance transported his body to the end of High Church Road, but due to the absence of a road leading to the village, situated on a high hill in Ward No. 31, the vehicle could not proceed further. As a result, the body was dropped off, and the ambulance had to return.

In a show of solidarity, five or six villagers wrapped Gowda’s body in a blanket, tied it to a long stick with rope, and carried him back to the village. Present during this somber occasion were Vidhan Parishad member Ganapathy Ulvekar and former minister Anand Asnotikar.

Guddehalli village, home to over a dozen families from the marginalized Halakki community, has long struggled with inadequate infrastructure. The only access is a dirt road, unsuitable for vehicles, which becomes impassable during the rainy season.

Residents have been advocating for a proper road for years, but progress has been slow. Although a 1.5 km road has been sanctioned, work has stalled. Rukmini Gowda, the Member of the Municipal Council for the 31st Ward, stressed that this incident should serve as a wake-up call for the administration to prioritize road construction for Guddehalli village.