A striking incident from Samba district in Jammu and Kashmir has exposed the stark contrast between official claims of development and ground realities. The remote settlements of Payour and Banab villages within the Karad panchayat of the Sumb block still lack basic motorable roads, leaving residents entirely cut off from dependable transport infrastructure during critical times.
The ordeal came to light when a local woman fell severely ill, requiring urgent medical attention. Because ambulances and standard vehicles cannot reach the settlement due to the absence of roads, the villagers had no choice but to improvise. They placed the ailing woman on a traditional palanquin and undertook a long, arduous trek on foot across the rugged terrain to transport her to the Sumb hospital. A video capturing the residents carrying the patient on the palanquin has since circulated widely.
Frustrated locals expressed deep anguish, pointing out that while the nation witnesses rapid technological advancement and infrastructural leaps, remote hamlets like Payour and Banab continue to struggle for fundamental amenities such as roads and healthcare access. According to the residents, the lack of connectivity hits the elderly, pregnant women, and emergency patients the hardest, turning routine medical issues into perilous trials.
The community has strongly appealed to the government and local administration to address this long-standing grievance immediately. They are demanding that a proper road network be constructed to connect the Karad panchayat villages so that families never again have to resort to carrying loved ones on palanquins for medical care. The episode underscores the ongoing challenges of delivering basic infrastructure to marginalized rural communities.
