Tribal Odisha’s reality: Man uses ‘cooking pot’ to carry daughter across flooded river sans bridge

A haunting image of development failure emerged from Salaguda panchayat under Phiringia block in Kandhamal district on Sunday. In a desperate and dangerous move, a man was seen ferrying his young daughter across a flooded river on a large aluminium degchie (utensil), highlighting the long-standing negligence toward rural infrastructure.

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According to sources, the absence of a concrete road or a bridge between these villages means residents are often cut off from the outside world for days during heavy rains. In emergencies — medical, educational, or otherwise — villagers either wade through dangerous waters or remain stranded.

The man, Bishnu Mallik from Dumburiguda village, had no choice but to ca