Fever Outbreak In ASR Tribal Village Revives Demand For Road Connectivity

Villagers said the fever affected nearly every household, leaving families struggling to arrange medical assistance. With several people falling ill simultaneously, transporting patients on traditional dolis has become increasingly difficult.

Patients have to cross nearly 7km of forest terrain to reach the nearest motorable road, a distance they cannot cover on foot when they are ill. Children are also among those affected, raising concern over delays in medical intervention.

Jajulubanda, under Moolapeta panchayat, has around 30 households and 192 tribal residents. Villagers said the absence of an Anganwadi centre and inadequate healthcare facilities added to their difficulties. They have to travel around 25km via Arla and Etigairampeta to reach the PHC at Dounuru in Koyyuru mandal.

CPIM district executive committee member K Govinda Rao urged the district administration to organise a medical camp. He urged the collector to visit the village and also find a permanent solution to the long-pending road connectivity issue.

According to Govinda Rao, a fund of ₹1.65 crore was sanctioned under the Adavi Thalli Bata scheme in 2025 and ₹4.10 crore allocated for the Arla-Pitrigadda Road project, but residents are yet to benefit from a functional road. He alleged that parts of the erected road were washed away during the heavy rains. He called for a review of the expenditure and early completion of the pending works.

Villagers appealed to the district administration to provide immediate medical assistance and ensure all-weather road connectivity, saying the lack of access continued to pose difficulties for them during medical emergencies.