Idukki's Forgotten Path Claims Another Life: The Silent Scream of Mullaringad

In the remote, verdant embrace of Idukki, a tragedy quietly unfolded in the Mullaringad tribal hamlet of Vellathooval grama panchayat, echoing a grim saga that has become agonizingly familiar. Another life, that of 65-year-old Neeli, has been tragically claimed by the unforgiving absence of a motorable road, turning a treatable illness into a death sentence.

Neeli’s last moments were a desperate struggle against time and terrain.

Suffering from a sudden illness, she needed immediate medical attention. But for the residents of Mullaringad, a journey to the nearest hospital is not a matter of minutes, but a grueling ordeal of carrying the sick and dying for 4.5 kilometers through treacherous paths. An ambulance, the symbol of immediate aid, could only reach a certain point, leaving her family and neighbours to undertake the agonizing trek with Neeli on a makeshift stretcher.

The journey, fraught with peril and delay, proved too much.

By the time Neeli reached the medical professionals, it was too late. Her passing isn't just a statistic; it's a searing indictment of systemic neglect, a silent scream from a community repeatedly promised relief but consistently left to fend for itself in the face of life-or-death emergencies.

This isn't an isolated incident.

Mullaringad’s history is dotted with similar heart-wrenching tales. Infants, pregnant women, the elderly – all have fallen victim to the unforgiving lack of infrastructure. Each death is a stark reminder of the government's apparent apathy towards the most vulnerable, despite decades of fervent pleas and community activism.

The tribal residents have tirelessly campaigned, submitted petitions, and made their voices heard, yet their pleas have consistently fallen on deaf ears.

During election seasons, the narrow, impassable trails leading to Mullaringad suddenly transform into conduits for political promises. Pledges of a motorable road, of bridging the infrastructural chasm, echo through the hills.

But once the ballots are cast and power consolidated, these promises fade like mist, leaving the community stranded in their isolated reality, condemned to face future medical emergencies with the same harrowing helplessness.

The anger and frustration among the residents are palpable. "How many more lives must be lost before our cries are heard?" asked a distraught local, his voice heavy with grief and indignation.

Their basic right to accessible healthcare, a fundamental pillar of any civilized society, remains a distant dream, sacrificed at the altar of bureaucratic indifference and political expediency.

Neeli's death is more than just a personal tragedy for her family; it is a profound societal failure.

It compels us to confront the uncomfortable truth that in pockets of our nation, basic human dignity and the right to life are still contingent on geographical proximity and political will. The story of Mullaringad is a powerful call to action, demanding immediate and sustained efforts to ensure that no more lives are lost on the forgotten paths of neglect.