Lack of bridge in Assam forces villagers to wade through river for funeral

Guwahati: Residents of a remote village in Assam’s Goalpara district were forced to carry a deceased man across a river after an ambulance was unable to reach their community. The lack of a bridge separating the village from the primary road network left family members and villagers with no choice but to transport the body on a bamboo stretcher through knee-to-waist-deep water.

The journey remained difficult even after crossing the river, as muddy roads on the opposite bank further hampered transportation. The incident has drawn significant attention to the ongoing infrastructure challenges faced by residents in the state’s interior regions.

The son of the deceased expressed deep frustration over the lack of development and the failure to provide basic amenities. While documenting the event on video, he remarked, "I never imagined having to document such circumstances on the day of my father’s death but felt compelled to do so in order to highlight what he described as official neglect and the absence of basic facilities."

He added that his father had long hoped to see a bridge built across the river, a dream that remained unfulfilled at the time of his passing. This event has renewed public concerns regarding rural connectivity and the difficulties citizens face during medical emergencies or essential transport.