The body of a minor girl student, who died on a country boat in Lakhimpur’s riverine area of Lohit-Khabolu, had to be carried home by her father in a jute bag on Wednesday.
According to information, a minor girl studying in Class VI died on a country boat while being transported back home from hospital in Lakhimpur’s Lohit-Khabolu on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident took place in Morolia ghat of the Subansiri river when Menaka, daughter of Debananda Doley, breathed her last while being carried on a country boat after treatment in North Lakhimpur, the headquarter town of Assam’s Lakhimpur district.
The girl had been unwell for a week and was taken to North Lakhimpur town, which is about 20 km away from her home.
Lack of road connectivity in the riverine areas of Lohit-Khabolu region of Lakhimpur district has been blamed for the delay of her transportation to North Lakhimpur.
“More tragic than the death was the way Maneka’s next of kin was compelled to carry her body home from the river ghat on their own due to the condition of the area,” said sources.
As the area has no road and therefore there is no vehicle.
“The body of Maneka was carried home on a jute bag from Morolia ghat by her father,” added sources.
The tragedy once again reminds the urgency to connect the riverine areas of Lakhimpur with roads and bridges, a demand which has been on since India’s independence.
Lohit-Khabolu is a village which falls under the Telahi Tehsil in Lakhimpur district of Assam.
The village is located 11 km towards south from the district headquarters, North Lakhimpur.
Lohit-Khabolu village is surrounded by Lakhimpur Tehsil towards the north, the Dhakuakhana Tehsil towards the west, Karunabari Tehsil towards the west and Ujani (Upper) Majuli Tehsil towards south.