Sat Sep 06 15:08:35 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text and a rewrite as a news article for The Hindu:
**Summary:**
The article reports on the dire situation in Edamalakkudy, Idukki, Kerala, India’s first tribal panchayat, due to the lack of proper road connectivity. Several recent incidents highlight the severe consequences of this lack, including the death of a child and an elderly woman due to delays in accessing medical care. Residents are forced to carry the sick and deceased long distances through dense forests on makeshift stretchers. The community refutes claims from a local MLA that the government has ensured adequate facilities, emphasizing the urgent need for road construction. The Idukki Collector has directed the Public Works Department to expedite pending road work.
**News Article:**
**Road to Nowhere: Tribal Panchayat Grapples with Medical Emergency Access**
**IDUKKI, September 06, 2025** – Edamalakkudy, Idukki, Kerala – Residents of Edamalakkudy, the state’s first tribal panchayat, are facing a critical healthcare crisis exacerbated by the chronic absence of proper road infrastructure. Recent incidents have brought the issue to the forefront, revealing the life-threatening consequences of isolation and inadequate transportation.
The heartbreaking reality was underscored when Rajakanni, 60, from the Koodallarkudy settlement, had to be carried approximately 10 kilometers through dense forest on a makeshift stretcher to reach the nearest hospital in Mankulam after developing a severe fever. This ordeal followed closely on the heels of tragedy, as Rajakanni’s grandson, five-year-old Karthik, died on August 22 after a similar arduous journey to seek medical attention for a high fever proved too late.
“The timely action helped save the woman’s life” said Sivakumar, a Koodallarkudy resident. “Her grandson had died on August 22 due to high fever. Rajakanni also had fever for two weeks, and on Thursday, her condition worsened, and she had to be shifted to the hospital.”
The absence of roads also forced Rajakanni’s family to carry the child’s body back to their settlement, a harrowing journey compounding their grief. This is not an isolated incident. Amruthavally, 60, from Shedukudy, succumbed to asthma after being transported in similar conditions to the family health center in Societykudy.
Locals are challenging claims made by Devikulam MLA A. Raja, who asserted that the government has ensured sufficient resources for Edamalakkudy. “There is no proper road connectivity in the panchayat, and it is a serious issue,” a resident stated emphatically. “The government should take immediate steps to rectify the situation.”
Idukki Collector Dineshan Cheruvatt has responded to the growing concerns by directing the Public Works Department (PWD) to expedite the completion of pending concreting work on the road connecting Pettimudy to Societykudy within Edamalakkudy. However, residents remain skeptical, citing a long history of unfulfilled promises.
The plight of Edamalakkudy serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by marginalized communities in accessing essential services. The lack of road infrastructure not only impedes healthcare access but also hinders economic development and isolates residents from the rest of the state. The community now anxiously awaits concrete action and a lasting solution to this pressing problem.
First Piper 