Palakkad: A tribal man died at his house without receiving medical care for fever as the land provided to tribals by the government was inundated in incessant rain.
Ramu, 45, of Akamalavaram Kollankunnu Vellezhuthanpotta tribal colony, lay unattended at his house for two days as there was no way to exit and seek treatment. He was taken to a hospital on Monday, but couldn't be saved.
The body had to be taken through forest tracks and buried at a relative's house six kilometres away. It was taken in an ambulance for 4.5 km and then carried on shoulders for 1.5 km.
Ramu's house was flooded on all four sides and an effort to raise the land with mud and bury him there did not work.
Ramu's wife Omana said he couldn't be taken to a hospital as the streams had spilled over. “We waited for two days, but the water did not recede. We sought help from forest guards and took him to Palakkad district hospital on Monday, but could not save him.”
Last year the government had provided land near big water streams of Vellezhuthanpatta forest for 16 tribal families from the Paniyar and Muthukar communities. The tribals settled in small tents and subsequently started construction of houses there. But as rains arrived, water filled up all around. The rivers were in spate and it was difficult to cross them.
Local people said a girl, Shruthi, had died of dengue fever last year because she couldn't be taken to hospital promptly.
Rain havoc in Palakkad | In pictures
