Alluri Sitharama Raju: A tribal woman from a remote hamlet in Andhra Pradesh's Koyyuru mandal had to be carried on a makeshift wooden cot for nearly 11 kilometres to access emergency medical care, exposing the severe lack of road infrastructure in the interior belts of Alluri Sitharama Raju district.

On Sunday, Korrabu Padma fell severely ill at her residence in Marripakalu. As motor vehicles could not navigate the treacherous terrain, her family and local villagers strapped her to a doli and trekked roughly 11 kilometres through rough terrain to reach Palakajeedi. From there, a waiting 108 ambulance transported her to the Y Ramavaram Area Hospital for urgent treatment.

Locals pointed out that the route from Marripakalu is littered with sharp rocks, deep potholes and steep, muddy inclines. The situation worsens drastically during the monsoon season, frequently cutting off access to emergency medical services for interior hamlets.

Stating that they have endured this connectivity crisis for decades, residents appealed to Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and the Andhra Pradesh government to immediately sanction and construct a paved all-weather road.

The incident highlights the persistent infrastructure gaps in the region, even as the state administration rolls out multiple welfare initiatives targeted at tribal belts.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu recently reiterated the administration's resolve to ensure safe drinking water and housing for every tribal household by 2027. He highlighted that feeder ambulances, 108 emergency response units, and 104 mobile health vans are being deployed to eliminate the practice of carrying patients on dolis.

According to the government authorities, road work is currently underway across 2,336 tribal habitations, with 905 kilometres already completed under the 'Adavi Talli Bata' initiative. To bridge healthcare gaps in hilly areas, the government also launched a drone-based medical delivery network on August 29, they say.